With the backing of EC funding, the Irish government has officially opened a new €230m customs and border-control complex at Rosslare Europort, marking one of the largest public port-infrastructure projects undertaken in the state. The facility, known as Terminal 7, replaces the temporary post-Brexit inspection facilities introduced in 2021 and is intended to provide a long-term, permanent platform for EU regulatory compliance and border-processing capacity.
Delivered on time and to budget, according to the official government statement, the Terminal 7 project brings together 34 buildings and consolidates customs, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS), immigration, freight and passenger check-in, and driver-welfare functions in a purpose-built area within the port. A new freight-scanning installation gives the Revenue Commissioners greater capability to inspect inbound road vehicles and cargo. Government ministers unveiling the project said the investment reinforces Ireland’s continued access to the EU single market and provides long-term security for trade and passenger movements through the port.
Onshore Power Supply is part of the upgrade
Hard on the heels of the inaugural WorldCargo News Shore Power Summit, just concluded in Rotterdam, Rosslare Europort has announced the intended deployment of a new on-shore power supply (OPS) system (as reported in July by WorldCargo News). The European Commission funding, through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), has also approved multi-million-euro funding for the extension of Berth 3 to accommodate larger vessels and the installation of new Ro-Ro ramps. The upgrades are intended to increase berth capacity, reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency and enhance climate resilience across the port estate. The OPS installation also aligns Rosslare with wider decarbonisation programmes across European ports. The Irish Office of Public Works earlier released a short video of work underway at the terminal.
Rosslare has seen significant growth and operational change since Brexit (the British decision to resign its membership of the European Union). Demand for direct routes between Ireland and continental Europe has grown strongly as shippers and road operators sought alternatives to the UK landbridge, and the added administrative burden that now entails. The port has recorded rising freight and passenger volumes on mainland Europe services, particularly those connecting to Cherbourg and Bilbao.
Ferry changes took place
However, in mid-2025, Stena Line announced it would end its Rosslare–Cherbourg service, with the final sailing in September 2025. In response, Brittany Ferries announced it would increase frequencies on the same route to daily services from October 2025. The carrier has reported sustained demand on Rosslare services from both freight and passenger markets, with traffic and unitised volumes more than doubling on some routes since 2021.
The port authority has also set out a wider strategic development plan that aims to transform Rosslare into a “smart port” combining expanded berth infrastructure, upgraded check-in and export compounds, automated terminal-management systems and expanded driver-facilities. The long-term masterplan also includes ambitions to position Rosslare as an offshore-renewable-energy (ORE) hub supporting Irish and Celtic-Sea wind development, with associated laydown, logistics and installation services.
Freight forwarding remains road-bound
Officials said the new infrastructure gives Rosslare a permanent platform to support long-term growth in both freight and passenger markets. The combination of Terminal 7, CEF-funded upgrades, and increasing operator interest continues a trend of repositioning the port from a regional ferry terminal to a key maritime gateway. Stakeholders anticipate this will strengthen Rosslare’s role in Irish supply chains and reinforce the structural shift towards direct Europe-Ireland maritime connections.
Rosslare’s self-billing as a premier port is not always echoed in independent forums. It should be noted that, although the port is operated by the state-owned Irish Rail (Iranród Éireann), rail connections at the port remain a point of contention, compounded by a tenuous coastal route. While a rather functional passenger terminal exists, there are no rail freight facilities. Nor does the port’s future planning currently have any vision to change that. It remains exclusively Ro-Ro, and all freight forwarding is by road.