The new terminal, which was self-financed by Dublin Port Company and completed on schedule and below budget, represents a significant step towards the realisation of the company's vision to future-proof the port's ability to manage cargo until 2040.

Based on 2022 estimates, the new T4 terminal will oversee 220,000 RoRo units annually, or more than one-fifth of all RoRo units at Dublin Port.

The opening of the new terminal coincides with an increase in demand for unaccompanied RoRo freight services—that is, items on trailers shipped by ferry without a driver—both to and from the larger Dublin market in the wake of Brexit.

Additionally, it has made it possible for a brand-new transhipment route to Santander, Spain, to open.

Three km of new quay walls and Victorian-era port infrastructure are put into service at the T4 terminal to support Seatruck Ferries' direct runs between Dublin and Liverpool/Heysham.

A previous jetty was demolished as part of the project, and its place was taken by two contemporary jetties, each measuring 270 metres. These jetties are big enough to support the largest ferries, which are 240 metres long, and are designed to support shore-to-ship power in the future.

About 51% of the nation's tonnage is handled by Dublin Port, which is the biggest freight and passenger port in the nation.

Its significance is even more evident in the unitized freight industry, where it manages 80% of all roll-on/roll-off and 71% of all load-on/load-off tonnage entering and leaving the nation.

According to Dublin Port Company CEO Barry O'Connell, Dublin is already among the most productive ports in Europe.

“With T4, we are driving even more efficiencies and facilitating growing customer demand for direct shipping routes between Dublin, the UK and Europe,” Mr. O'Connell stated.

“Even with T4 now fully in operation, Dublin is running at 91% average capacity and therefore it is imperative that our plans to complete all three of our Masterplan 2040 projects continue as planned,” he stated.

“This will ensure we create the capacity needed to support the ongoing growth in the economy to 2040, while providing new public amenities that will support the growth of our city and neighbouring community for decades to come.”

Minister of State Jack Chambers, who officially opened the new terminal, stated that Dublin Port has been building the infrastructure required to handle increases in traffic in accordance with its Masterplan.

“T4 will significantly improve the Port's roll-on/roll-off capabilities. The prosperity of Ireland's importers and exporters depends on our ports operating smoothly and with adequate capacity since we are an island nation,” he continued.