Dublin Port has completed a €3.4 million investment in new refrigerated container facilities, aimed at supporting growing demand for temperature-controlled cargo. The works include four purpose-built reefer racks in the Port’s common user area, capable of supplying power to 140 reefer containers stacked up to five high. The development, operated under an eight-year licence by Doyle Shipping Group, forms part of Dublin Port’s broader strategy to strengthen cold chain resilience and operational efficiency.
The new infrastructure addresses increasing volumes of perishable imports and exports, including dairy, meat, fish, fruit, beverages and pharmaceuticals. A dedicated substation will power the expanded capacity, ensuring continuous temperature control. The project reflects Dublin Port’s broader investment programme, which delivered twelve active capital projects in 2025 and plans to ramp spending to an average of €175 million annually in the coming years.
New reefer gantries enhance operational efficiency
Reefer racks (or reefer gantries) provide access to connect stacked refrigerated containers to the power supply. , allowing temperature-sensitive cargo to remain temperature-controlled while in port. Constructed by Irish and Scottish civil engineers Wills Bros, the new racks enable reefer containers to be stacked up to five high in seven rows under the terminal’s RTGs, giving a total capacity of 140 reefer points.
The works were delivered at the Doyle Shipping Group terminal on Alexandra Quay East, one of three independently competing LoLo terminals in the Port. In 2025, Dublin Port recorded its busiest LoLo year with 9% growth over 2024 volumes. The port did not provide figures, but in 2024 its LoLo volume was 885,436 TEU. Adding 9% growth to that figure takes the port to 965,125 TEU – very close to the 1m TEU mark.
“Growth in LoLo volumes in recent years has put pressure on land use,” said Cormac Kennedy, Head of Commercial and Programme Management Office at Dublin Port Company. “Investment of this type helps us stay ahead of demand and support our customers’ growth plans. In recent years, we have invested an average of €60 million annually in capital projects, with €120 million spent in 2025.”
Supporting Ireland’s export growth
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke T.D. attended the handover of the new facilities, highlighting the importance of cold chain infrastructure for Irish exports. “Many of Ireland’s key exports depend on reliable cold‑chain logistics, particularly the Irish dairy export sector, which reached a record €7.3 billion in 2025, a 14% increase on prior years,” he said. He noted that the EU remains Ireland’s largest market, accounting for 38% of dairy exports, with the UK consistently the top single-country destination.
The new reefer infrastructure will support exporters by maintaining product quality during port dwell time, while improving resilience against weather and operational disruptions. By ensuring continuous power to refrigerated containers, Dublin Port and Doyle Shipping Group aim to safeguard trade flows and prevent waste of perishable goods. The project forms part of a series of upgrades enhancing the Port’s customer experience and cargo handling capacity.
Adapting to post-Brexit trading patterns
Glen O’Connor, CEO at Doyle Shipping Group, said the gantries address shifts in traffic patterns following Brexit, with direct EU services into Dublin increasing significantly. “We are pleased to offer these additional spaces to customers importing or exporting temperature‑sensitive goods. They also strengthen operational resilience by keeping reefers on‑temperature during adverse weather or sailing disruptions, helping avoid waste and protecting product quality,” he added.
The investment demonstrates a combined approach to capacity growth and operational efficiency, aligning with Dublin Port’s self-financing model. It ensures that infrastructure keeps pace with the growth in LoLo volumes, supporting customers’ export and import needs and sustaining the wider Irish economy, while maintaining a focus on temperature-sensitive cargo handling. Up to €165 billion of trade flows through Dublin Port each year. The Port handles 80% of all containerised freight into the Republic of Ireland.