‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’) At Holy Communion blessed bread and wine is shared by which we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ The congregation gives thanks for Jesus’ life his death and resurrection and his continuing presence A free exhibition showcasing the history and restoration of one of Holyhead's most historic landmarks will open next month Taking place from 1st to 14th May at Holyhead Market Hall and Library the exhibition will detail the history of the Grade I listed St Cybi’s Church and the adjacent Eglwys y Bedd – a Grade II listed building both of which stand within the walls of Caer Gybi Roman Fort Local residents will have an opportunity to learn more about the restoration work and future plans as a worship and community space Additional visitors are expected from the six cruise ships docking in Holyhead and the artisan markets in Swift Square St Cybi's Church is being renovated as part of Isle of Anglesey County Council's town centre plans funded by the UK Governments through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund secured in January 2023 The restoration project features significant improvements which will preserve the church's heritage and improve accessibility A new ramp structure now allows full access to the church for the first time in centuries while the original Victorian tiles will be carefully re-laid over a brand new underfloor heating system The delicate encaustic tiles from the chancel and high altar areas have all been professionally cleaned and will be expertly reinstalled in their original positions The final stages of the project include furniture upgrades designed to create a more versatile worship space including new wooden benches for worship and stackable chairs for larger community events Read the full news story on the Diocese of Bangor website: Copyright © 2007-2025 The Representative Body of the Church in Wales All Rights Reserved.Registered Charity Number: 1142813 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Holyhead Golf Club in Wales has been told to close its 18th hole after the owner of a house that backs on to the course complained about errant golf balls landing on his property Anglesey County Council ruled in favour of the homeowner and insisted the club shut the par-4 finishing hole until further notice on health and safety grounds The board at Holyhead said the news came “out of the blue” and they “couldn’t face” becoming a 17-hole course and is now seeking to raise £75,000 to build a new 18th green “A neighbour said golf balls were leaving the boundary of the course and going onto their property,” a spokesman for the 113-year-old club explained “He has evidence that balls were going into his garden I don’t know of any golf club in the country that can just find £75,000 out of thin air But we can’t bury our heads in the sand and just hope everything will be OK A spokesperson for Isle of Anglesey County Council said: “The County Council’s Public Protection team has served an improvement notice to Holyhead Golf Club under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 The Council has a statutory duty to ensure the health and safety of golf course users as well as members of the public that may be affected by the golf course Our Environmental Health officers continue to work closely with the golf club in relation to this matter.” The club has set up a GoFundMe page in order to raise the money to redevelop its existing 18th and 8th greens just over £7,500 has been raised from a target of £10,000 A statement on the funding page stated: “We have been quoted a price of £75,000 for the work to be carried out We are hoping the work is completed by May 1 2025 and we will be up and running as an 18-hole golf course.” Following the news of the theft of over £2 million of stock from its Manchester warehouse last weekend Worldwide Golf Brands reports that the business is 'back up and running' with minimal disruption to the vast majority of its customers the business growth agency for UK and Irish golf clubs has launched a new marketing system that has delivered rapid advances in the service they deliver Brocket Hall has announced that world-renowned putting coach Phil Kenyon is to open a new state-of-the-art putting studio at the Hertfordshire-based venue GolfBusinessNews.com (GBN) is for the many thousands of people who work in the golf business all around the world We cover the full range of topics both on and off the course We aim to supply essential information both quickly and accurately in a format which is easy to use We are independent of all special interest groups Click here to sign up for our free twice weekly golf industry news summary View the latest newsletter here 5/7 High StreetDorchester-on-ThamesOxfordshire OX10 7HHUnited Kingdom publisher@golfbusinessnews.com © 1999-2025 e.GolfBusiness.com Limited | All Rights Reserved. | GBN Privacy Policy By 2024-12-19T11:13:00+00:00 Holyhead port is one of the main trade gateways between GB and Dublin Storm-hit Holyhead port will remain closed until at least the 15 January causing further disruption to trade between Great Britain and Ireland in the peak holiday season was due to reopen on 20 December after being badly damaged by Storm Darragh earlier in the month port owner Stena Line confirmed yesterday that two of its terminals would need to remain closed for longer due to large infrastructure damage still being addressed There were hopes the port – through which around 1,200 lorries and trailers make the journey from Wales to Dublin each day – would be open by Christmas but passengers and businesses alike are now being advised to make alternative arrangements Ireland’s national postal service had already dropped plans to use Holyhead port for Christmas deliveries Exclusive data from supply chain analyst Project44 shows a slump in movements of goods between Holyhead and Dublin with only two roll-on/roll-off vessel services – which are ships designed to carry wheeled cargo including lorries – recorded on 9 December general cargo vessels and passenger services have all been largely stopped for weeks now The prolonged closures will continue to severely affect logistics and ferry operations between the UK and Ireland The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade’s international trade and customs senior specialist said: “The Holyhead to Dublin route is used by many exporters to Ireland – for those that are UK-based but also as a transit point for goods arriving from the EU using Great Britain as a land bridge goods will be routed through other border crossings causing congestion in many places and resulting in delays and disruption “The Christmas period is busy for freight movements overall but the indefinite closure of Holyhead port means a lot of carefully planned shipments need to be rescheduled with some of them missing their scheduled deliveries.” UK and EU to Ireland shipping routes have deployed larger vessels and additional sailings added to the schedule but some transit times are taking longer as a result Companies should opt to “air freight time-sensitive cargo or for larger cargo that is not able to be flown choose to route from Southampton into Dublin” to avoid further disruption The most recent update from An Post on 16 December said all but 16,000 of the initially 500,000 affected parcels stuck in Holyhead port had been cleared “Through close collaboration with UK retailers and logistics companies An Post has received almost all outstanding items impacted by the Storm Darragh/Holyhead outage “An Post is also securing air freight capacity to get parcels and mail that would traditionally have shipped via Holyhead moved out of Ireland to meet latest posting date promises.” President of the Irish Road Haulage Association told the BBC the ongoing closures will continue to be “detrimental” to its members and the Irish and Welsh economies “We’re now travelling hundreds of miles more paying higher ferry costs because of a lack of available routes,” he said “It’s meaning a huge commercial cost to the industry which won’t be seen until after Christmas.” associate professor of logistics & supply chain management at Cranfield University added: “Shutting down Holyhead Port has wide-reaching implications for trade “This incident shows that deeper thinking of the vulnerabilities in our infrastructure is needed and the need for contingency planning to mitigate such impacts.” Sign in to comment on this article Site powered by Webvision Cloud Learn moreExplore related questionsDiscover more about the topics that matter most Browse our suggested questions or ask your own to find out more Impact of Storm Darragh has shut route between Wales and Ireland Holyhead port in Wales, battered by Storm Darragh 10 days ago is to remain closed until mid-January at the earliest in a major blow for 150,000 passengers in Britain trying to get to Ireland for Christmas The port in the north-west of Wales is the second biggest roll-on roll-off ferry in the UK after Dover, and the continued closure is likely to have a major impact on deliveries of cheese, beef and stout. Read moreGuinness had already limited supplies to Britain because of an increase in demand in the run-up to Christmas The diversion of traffic and cars to Liverpool and Pembroke and Fishguard in south Wales will also have a knock-on effect on Christmas traffic to Belfast Holyhead port said the two ferry terminals would “remain closed until Wednesday 15 January 2025 at the earliest” adding that the port’s current priority is to get Terminal 5 passenger terminal reopened safely to resume ferry services as soon as possible it said it had taken the decision to keep the terminals closed and to announce it now to “provide certainty for passengers freight customers and ferry operators and allow them to make alternative arrangements ahead of one of the busiest times of the year” It added that part of the structure of Terminal 3 berth had collapsed “rendering it unusable” after two incidents on 6 and 7 December at the height of the storm it has been necessary to perform underwater inspections of the structural integrity of the adjacent Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 berths which could only commence once Storm Darragh had passed early last Tuesday (10th) morning,” it said “We understand the closure of the ferry terminals has had a significant impact on trade We are sorry for the disruption this has caused The safety of our colleagues and customers is our first priority and we will only permit ferry services to recommence once we are sure it is safe to do so,” it added Pointing to the scale of disruption for families on Tuesday evening Stenaline website was showing all ferries from Fishguard to Rosslare and Liverpool to Belfast full for cars bar one ferry sailing on each route on Christmas Eve Irish Ferries confirmed it had cancelled all sailings on the route until the middle of January The two main ferry berths were damaged during Storm Darragh 10 days ago diverting truck trade to other ports including Pembroke and Birkenhead expressed hope the port would be re-opened by the end of the week while his Irish counterpart suggested the worst possible scenario could be spring The Welsh government said the closure would cause “anxiety” for passengers at Christmas but also for workers in Holyhead and businesses relying on the port Plaid Cymru MP Llinos Medi said the closure was “devastating” and called on the government to spell out its policy on supporting investment in the port given its the strategic importance to trade and tourism facilitating substantial passenger and freight movement between the United Kingdom and Ireland the port accommodates approximately two million passengers and manages the transit of around 1,200 lorries daily underscoring its critical role in regional commerce and connectivity Storm Darragh inflicted significant damage on Holyhead Port’s infrastructure necessitating a complete shutdown from 7 December The storm’s severity led to structural impairments prompting comprehensive underwater inspections to assess and address the damage Following extensive assessments and repair initiatives port authorities have announced a targeted partial reopening date of 16 January 2025 contingent upon favourable weather conditions The initial phase involves recommencing operations at Terminal 5 while Terminal 3 remains closed pending further evaluations The safety of passengers and staff remains paramount guiding the meticulous restoration process to ensure all facilities meet stringent safety standards prior to resumption The port’s closure has precipitated notable disruptions in trade and travel particularly affecting the flow of goods between the UK and Ireland Hauliers have been compelled to reroute through alternative ports such as Birkenhead and Liverpool incurring increased operational costs and extended transit times The Irish Road Haulage Association has projected a potential 30% surge in expenses implications likely to cascade down to consumers through elevated delivery charges and potential product shortages The suspension of ferry services between Dublin and Holyhead during the peak holiday season has impacted over 150,000 travellers leading to a significant escalation in flight prices Airlines have attributed these fare hikes to the sudden surge in demand coupled with capacity constraints at airports ferry operators have coordinated alternative routes including services between Rosslare and Fishguard are actively collaborating to expedite the restoration of services and mitigate the adverse effects of the closure Irish Ferries has expressed commitment to maintaining a flexible approach to vessel deployment during this challenging period ensuring that both passenger and freight needs are addressed effectively The phased reopening strategy aims to restore full operational capacity promptly thereby reinstating Holyhead Port’s vital role in regional trade and travel The unforeseen closure of Holyhead Port due to Storm Darragh has underscored the port’s integral role in UK-Ireland logistics and the broader economic landscape The concerted efforts toward a phased reopening beginning with Terminal 5 on 16 January 2025 reflect a commitment to restoring this critical infrastructure prioritizing safety and efficiency to ensure the port’s full operational capabilities are reinstated thereby stabilising trade routes and passenger travel in the region the UK & Ireland’s largest provider of industrial began procuring specialist articulated flatbed trailers and rigid bodywork solutions from Tiger Trailers in We are witnessing a pivotal moment in the UK’s The head of fleet at a major medical equipment 11 Mar 2025 By Stena Line Ports is seeking contractors for a £150m project at Holyhead in North Wales The shipping giant has asked firms interested in the breakwater refurbishment scheme to register for a market engagement event on 1 April The Grade II-listed breakwater is the longest of its kind in the UK at 2.75km and provides protection to vessels works are required to ensure its stability and reduce the chance of a breach during storm conditions Stena said in a statement yesterday (10 March) Principal elements of the job are likely to include provision of about 11,600 45-tonne tetrapod armour units (a type of concrete block used to reinforce breakwaters) and 750 120-tonne chevron blocks Rockfill will need to be supplied and placed to reprofile the breakwater foundations The tetrapod and chevron blocks will be placed on the seaward side and around the end of the breakwater Concrete mattresses will also be supplied and placed on the harbour side of the breakwater Stena Line Ports said it was keen to hear from firms “experienced in undertaking coastal and maritime engineering construction works” It added that works were likely to be limited to the summer season “due to the exposed nature of the site” A two-stage competitive tender exercise will follow the 1 April workshop with contractors to be asked to demonstrate proven experience in the delivery of similar projects during the first stage chief operating officer for ports and terminals at Stena Line Ports said the launch of the procurement process for the project was a crucial step in securing the future of the structure “The breakwater is essential for protecting the Port of Holyhead and the town ensuring the safety of our operations and the ships that dock here,” he added “This significant investment aims to preserve this historical infrastructure and underscores our commitment to maintaining Holyhead Port’s stability and securing its sustainable future.” The breakwater works form part of a strategic plan to secure the sustainable future of Holyhead’s port The Welsh and UK governments are contributing £20m each to the overall initiative Contractors can find more detail of the Holyhead refurbishment procurement process here. Substantial growth in the infrastructure sector is expected over the next 12… This story was written with AI assistance from Harmsworth Wigan Council has… This story was written with AI assistance from Harmsworth Who is Harmsworth?… Anglesey Council has offered to support Stena Line ‘in any way it can’ as Holyhead Port remains closed due to storm damage. All ferry services between Holyhead and Dublin are currently cancelled after the ferry berths were damaged during Storm Darragh earlier this month. The port will not be reopening for ferry services until January 15 2025 at the earliest. The council’s Economic Development Unit is in the process of creating an online portal to engage with local businesses and assess the economic and employment impacts of the port closure on the Holyhead area. This will be launched in January. Anglesey Council’s Chief Executive, Dylan J. Williams, said: “We recognise that this is a challenging and uncertain time for all concerned, and that Stena Line is making every effort to rectify the damage, reopen the Port and minimise economic and community impacts. “Unfortunately, we now know that the ferry berths won’t reopen until January 15 2025, at the earliest. “Our commitment to working with Stena Line as a partner remains – not only with important investment opportunities, like Anglesey Freeport, but also during the difficult times. The county council is committed to provide support or assistance in any way we can. We will also continue to co-operate fully with both Welsh and UK Governments.” Council Leader and Economic Development portfolio holder, Councillor Gary Pritchard, said: “We welcome Stena Line’s continued commitment to Holyhead as a port and town. The port’s closure is having a significant impact on travel and freight movement regionally, nationally and internationally. “In light of yesterday’s announcement that the Port will be closed until at least mid-January, I will be calling on the Welsh Government to support those businesses in the local supply chain which are being severely impacted by the closure; and on the UK Government to recognise the Port of Holyhead's strategic importance. “We all recognise the severity of this situation and hope to see the Port of Holyhead reopened as quickly as possible. But the safety of the travelling public and those working at the Port remains of paramount importance for us all.” Stena Line is offering sailings for passengers and freight from Dublin to ports in Birkenhead and Fishguard. In addition, a new freight route from Dublin to Heysham has been added to assist continuity of trade flows. The company has also added additional sailings on the Belfast – Cairnryan route. Currently there is limited availability on the Belfast – Liverpool and Rosslare – Fishguard routes, it said. A spokesperson for the ferry company said: “Stena Line would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused and assure customers that the company is doing everything in its power to mitigate the effects of the closure on passenger and freight traffic.” and highly targeted distribution networks offers our clients a proven strategically connected one-stop-shop solution for all regions and business sectors in Wales and beyond You can read this article in 5 minutesPölös Zsófia Hauliers lost up to £50,000 during the Holyhead Port closure as poor communication and a lack of driver facilities worsened the disruption A new report by the Welsh Parliament’s Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee has criticised the Welsh Government’s handling of the Holyhead Port closure unclear ministerial responsibility and a lack of strategic planning may have exacerbated the disruption caused by Storm Darragh The closure, which lasted from 7 December 2024 to 16 January 2025 followed two berthing incidents at Terminal 3 during strong onshore winds at a critical time for pre-Christmas trade flows between Ireland and the UK The Committee concluded that “a lack of speed and urgency” in the Welsh Government’s response left businesses and freight operators without essential information According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA) the organisation only received contact from Welsh officials on Christmas Eve—more than two weeks after the closure began “The first contact that I had with the Welsh civil service throughout this whole process was that I got an e-mail on Christmas Eve not only had the issue been live for nearly two weeks but we had also secured the relaxation of drivers’ hours and that had run out by the time that I was first notified,” said a representative of the RHA The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) also expressed frustration at the lack of clear communication: “The communication at the advent of this storm was dire There was a build-up of over 1,000 trailers in the Holyhead area that it wouldn’t be happening,” the IRHA stated Local businesses and hauliers were significantly affected One haulier reported losses of over £50,000 due to drivers being forced to sit idle at the docks in the run-up to Christmas and logistics companies in Holyhead and across North Wales reported sharp falls in trade and footfall A survey conducted by the Isle of Anglesey County Council found that 54% of businesses believed jobs were at risk and nearly all respondents feared the ongoing impact of reduced sailings The Committee also raised serious concerns over the lack of driver facilities in Holyhead The RHA described the area as “really poorly served in terms of rest facilities with only 30 to 50 parking spaces available and limited amenities “Although there is a privately owned small concern that is available you’re only looking at between 30 and 50 spaces there it’s a portaloo and a burger van,” the RHA explained The report criticises the Welsh Government for missing its own 2024 deadline to publish a new freight and ports strategy noting that the current policy framework dates back to 2008 It adds that the Government’s reliance on delayed HMRC trade data limited its ability to assess the economic impact of the closure in real-time According to HMRC figures quoted in the report the value of trade through Holyhead in December 2024 dropped to £432.2 million—less than half the £922.6 million recorded in December 2023 Although the Committee welcomed the establishment of the Irish Sea Taskforce it warned that expectations were high and progress slow The first meeting did not take place until 27 March 2025 The report sets out six formal recommendations including urgent financial support for affected businesses a “lessons learned” review of the Government’s response and the immediate publication of long-overdue freight and maritime strategies “We believe that if there had been greater engagement with the ports and freight sectors and the recommendations set out in the Committee’s A New Direction for HGV Drivers report had been implemented then Welsh Government would have been in a better position to respond to this crisis.” Agnieszka Kulikowska - Wielgus Journalist Trans.info | 6.05.2025 Pölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Fragrance on the Fly: Why Pocket Perfumes Are Perfect for Airplane TravelSponsored Article 6.05.2025 By 2025-01-17T12:03:00  The north Wales port connects Britain to Dublin and is one of the country’s busiest Already have an account? Sign in here Already have an account? Sign in here BOTH teams were playing their final game of the season on Saturday and it was the annoyingly inconsistent Porthmadog who deservedly took the spoils at the end of an entertaining match, writes Treflyn Jones. The outcome was unimportant to the Hotspurs as they had already secured a play-off place but Port`s win cements for them a third place spot in the final league table. Things started brightly for Porthmadog. After only five minutes a pass deep from the Port defence arrived at the feet of Rhys Alun in a central position and his glorious pass released Danny Brookwell. His sprint took him inside the box from whence he made no mistake as he calmly side-footed the ball past the stranded Guto Hughes. Port continued to attack with pace and Gruff Ellis narrowly cleared the crossbar with a towering header from a Rhys Alun corner. A few minutes later, however, Hotspur drew level when despite zero appeals from the visitors, referee Craig Griffiths pointed to the spot for an infringement seemingly on the by-line within Port`s box. Up stepped Cory Williams to side-foot home whilst sending Port keeper Ollie Farebrother the wrong way. The game now became even more open and a flurry of chances were set up at both ends with Port getting the lion`s share of them. First up was Rhys Alun who found himself through on goal but a bad bounce got the better of him before blazing over the bar and a real chance had gone a-begging. Next, Port’s Iddon Price was called upon to make a goal-line clearance after an attempted long kick by Farebrother was charged down. Port’s Jamie Jones came close to the target with a daisy-cutter before Rhys Alun brought out the very best in Holyhead`s custodian Guto Hughes as his full-length dive enabled him to tip away a strong shot and the same attacker stung Hughes` palms with another long distance effort. Port were on top at this stage but Iddon Price had to make another goal-line clearance before the half ended 1-1. Early in the second half, the visitors hit the crossbar with a fine half volley but with 66 minutes on the clock, Port took the lead for the second time. Following excellent work by Danny Brookwell, Jamie Jones sent a teasing cross into the box. Cai Jones’ head got to it first and his header looped over Guto Hughes into the corner of the net. 2-1 to Port. Some eleven minutes later, things got even better for the hosts when an attempted headed clearance outside his area by Guto Hughes failed to reach its target and John Littlemore after regaining the ball with much tenacity, was able to tap into an unguarded net to give the hard-working Port team a 3-1 lead. Port maintained their composure at the back and there were few further scares. That’s it for the league campaign. Congratulations to Holyhead on clinching their play-off place and best of luck to them in their final as they carry the flag for the Ardal North West. As for Port, they can finish the season on a high at the Lock Stock Ardal Northern League Cup Final against Brickfield Rangers on May 17th. Comments Tel: 01970 615000[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd. | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Tens of thousands of travellers between Great Britain and the Republic face slower journeys and higher fares – over £500 for one Ryanair flight from Gatwick to Dublin I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The main ferry connection between Great Britain and Ireland will remain closed until 15 January at the earliest, after the port of Holyhead suffered damage during a storm earlier this month The weeks-long shutdown of the link between Holyhead and Dublin will wreck the plans of tens of thousands of Christmas travellers hoping to cross the Irish Sea by ferry as well as disrupting the supply chain of goods across the Irish Sea A spokesperson for Holyhead Port said: “We are now able to provide an update on the current closure of the Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 ferry berths at Holyhead Port both terminals will need to remain closed until Wednesday 15 January 2025 at the earliest Our current priority is to establish when Terminal 5 can be re-opened safely “This follows two incidents affecting the Terminal 3 berth on Friday 6 December and Saturday 7 December resulting in part of the structure collapsing and rendering it unusable “Whilst we are still assessing the full extent of the damage we are taking the decision now to keep the ferry berths closed until 15 January at the earliest to provide certainty for passengers freight customers and ferry operators and allow them to make alternative arrangements ahead of one of the busiest times of the year The safety of our colleagues and customers is our first priority and we will only permit ferry services to recommence once we are sure it is safe to do so Two million passengers use Holyhead a year and around 1,200 lorries and trailers make the crossing every day according to Parliament’s Welsh Affairs Committee Normally Stena Line and Irish Ferries have four daily ferries each way between the Anglesey and the Irish capital. Hundreds of motorists and foot passengers use the link each day, with “Rail & Sail” fares offered from stations in Wales, England and Scotland to Dublin. Pressure on other forms of transport is leading to soaring fares. Friday’s early evening Ryanair flight from London Gatwick to Dublin, leaving at 5.45pm is currently priced at £501 one-way without baggage. On Friday’s 6.30pm British Airways departure from Heathrow to the Irish capital, one seat remains at £660. This is for business class, and includes 64kg of checked baggage. From Bristol to Dublin on Aer Lingus, tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday are all priced at around £200 for a 206-mile hop. Holyhead-Dublin is also the main freight connection between Great Britain and the Republic. Sailings from Birkenhead to Dublin continue, as do the southern routes between Pembroke and Fishguard in southwest Wales and the Irish port of Rosslare. A new link has been added from Fishguard to Dublin, but this takes twice as long as the ferry from Holyhead. A spokesperson for Stena Line said: “Stena Line is offering sailings for passengers and freight from Dublin to ports in Birkenhead and Fishguard. In addition, a new freight route from Dublin to Heysham has been added to assist continuity of trade flows.” The company has also added additional sailings on the Belfast-Cairnryan route this weekend. Currently there is limited availability on the Belfast-Liverpool and Rosslare-Fishguard routes. “Stena Line would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused and assure customers that the company is doing everything in its power to mitigate the effects of the closure on passenger and freight traffic,” the spokesperson said. Irish Ferries said in an online statement: “We are currently contacting customers booked to travel on the route in date order to outline options available to them, including sailing on the Rosslare-Pembroke route, where we have added more space. “We are also working with UK ports with a view to adding further sailings to/from Ireland.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Credit: ITV Cymru WalesHolyhead Port is closed due to part of the berth structure collapsing after two separate berthing incidents amid Storm Darragh The port will stay closed until January 15 'at the earliest' after damage suffered during Storm Darragh which saw gusts of up to 94mph batter the UK Port bosses said two separate incidents on December 6 and 7 led to part of the berth structure collapsing and becoming unusable with underwater inspections of the "structural integrity" of other berths taking place from 10 December after the passing of Storm Darragh A spokesperson for the port said this process is still ongoing and it will only permit ferry services to resume once they are sure it is safe The closure of Holyhead port during one of the busiest trading periods between the UK and Ireland has affected the delivery of festive goods and caused disruption for those travelling for Christmas Latest: Huge impact on trade as Holyhead port to remain closed until January 'at the earliest' a spokesperson for Holyhead Port said: "We appreciate there is legitimate public interest in the circumstances surrounding the temporary closure of the ferry berths at Holyhead Port "It has been established that on Friday two separate berthing incidents occurred affecting the Terminal 3 berth used by Irish Ferries resulting in part of the berth structure collapsing and rendering it unusable and we will provide an update as soon as we are able to "We understand that the closure of the port has had a significant impact on trade passengers and port customers and we are aware of the disruption this has caused The safety of all persons involved in the berthing arrangements; including our staff contractors and of course our customers is our number one priority and we will only permit ferry services to recommence once we are sure it is safe to do so." An Irish Ferries spokesperson said: "Irish Ferries can re-confirm categorically as stated previously that the current closure of Holyhead Port is not due to the berthing operations of our vessels but due to port infrastructure damage that emerged during Storm Darragh and this is currently being assessed by the port operator "With the ongoing closure of Holyhead Port Irish Ferries have at present increased capacity on the Pembroke/Rosslare route where we have deployed the James Joyce vessel to accommodate greater passenger numbers "Additional sailings have been added onto the Dublin/Cherbourg service with daily departures scheduled for the upcoming days adding significant freight capacity and access to the continental market "In the key week ahead with freight backlogs to clear and thousands of passengers about to embark on their drive home for Christmas to reunite with family and friends Irish Ferries remains actively engaged with alternative British Ports to facilitate access for our vessels and help alleviate the significant pressures on both the freight and passenger markets "We are awaiting confirmation of the expected port reopening on 20th December we will continue to pursue all viable options to ensure freight and passengers get to their destination in time for Christmas and will update further as soon as we have more information "Irish Ferries is communicating directly with our customers who have been impacted by the closure of Holyhead Port up to Thursday and will be in direct contact with customers due to sail on later dates as soon as there is more clarity We appreciate the patience of all our customers as we work to minimise the impact of the disruption at this challenging time." said: "The unprecedented closure of Holyhead Port in the run-up to Christmas has caused major upheaval in freight flows between Ireland and Britain Our priority in the coming days will be to mitigate as much as we can by trying to secure as much additional capacity as possible throughout our Irish Sea network High levels of pre-Christmas bookings have made this a very challenging operation but we are working around the clock to examine every conceivable opportunity "I can confirm that our operational teams have now been able to establish a new temporary freight only ferry route between Dublin-Heysham which will launch on Tuesday We have also established a new temporary route on Dublin-Fishguard for passengers and freight which will be served by the Stena Adventurer we are operating a free bus service for transport between Holyhead and Fishguard for passengers with existing Holyhead-Dublin bookings "Extra sailings have also been introduced on our Dublin-Liverpool service provided by Stena Estrid and we are pleased that we have now secured permission to carry cars and their passengers on this route going forward This unprecedented port closure has created a stressful situation for everyone involved so I would appeal for as much flexibility and patience as possible in the days ahead as we seek to reduce the pre-Christmas backlog." First Minister Eluned Morgan said: "Storm Darragh has really created havoc in our nation and has been particularly damaging for Holyhead Port "The transport secretary met with the managers of the port (on Thursday) and the local authorities to make sure that they had everything they needed that we could offer them but it is going to be a few days before the port is reopened "I know every effort will be made to try and turn things round as quickly as they can There's not an insignificant amount of damage and of course this is a particularly busy time of year for that port." the FM said: "That is something that's going to be in the hands of the people who are correcting the problems caused by the storm." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know… Anglesey Council has welcomed plans to set up a new multi stakeholder task force to secure the future of Holyhead Port The UK’s second busiest port has been closed to all ships and vehicles since December 7th due to damage caused to vital berthing infrastructure in the wake of Storm Darragh The task force will be led by the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Economy Mr Skates said that the group will work with the Irish Ministers for Transport the UK Government and other key players in the Welsh and Irish ports and ferry industry to ensure the port meets the future needs of both nations Council Leader and Economic Development portfolio holder We’ve seen in recent weeks how the port’s sudden and unexpected closure over Christmas and New Year – one of the busiest times of year – caused significant disruption to passengers and freight movement cannot be underestimated and we welcome the opportunity to discuss plans for future resilience and how we can protect the strategic significance of Holyhead Port.” “This new task force will get key stakeholders around the table and we look forward to co-operating with partners and playing our part in these vital discussions.” News of the task force comes as Anglesey Council launches its own Holyhead Port closure impact survey “We are already working closely with Welsh Government to understand the impact that the unplanned closure of Holyhead Port has had upon businesses “Whilst the Port is fully owned and operated by Stena Line we want to ensure that the effects of the closure to businesses will allow us to gain the evidence needed to draw financial support for affected Welsh businesses.” the Council is fortunate to have a close working relationship with Stena Line given our existing partnership to deliver the Anglesey Freeport project also be key to secure the future of Holyhead Port as well as those local jobs which depend upon its continued operation.” The Holyhead Port closure impact survey can be found here: https://www.anglesey.gov.wales/holyhead-port-business-survey Holyhead Port authority, Stena Line, recently announced that 16 January remains an achievable date to open the Terminal 5 ferry berth in Holyhead Port and resume ferry sailings on the Dublin – Holyhead route, subject to reasonable weather conditions. 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You can change your cookie preferences at any time With the port of Holyhead due to partially reopen today (16 January) the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates has emphasised the Welsh Government will continue to work with all partners Stena have announced repairs have been carried out to the port which was badly damaged by Storm Darragh in December last year meaning ferries can now sail at full capacity The Welsh Government has been working closely with the Irish Government since the temporary closure of the port This has included the First Minister meeting with the Taoiseach last week where they discussed the on-going impact of the port’s closure on the movement of people and freight To help achieve the long term resilience of the port the Cabinet Secretary last week announced the setting up of a task force which will work with the Irish Ministers for Transport Stena and other key players in the Welsh and Irish ports and ferry industry to ensure the port meets the future needs of both nations For further information please select the following link: "We will continue to work together on the port of Holyhead" - Ken Skates | GOV.WALES Lines are open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday. 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Stena Line says no ferries will sail between the Welsh port and Dublin until 20 December at the earliest Thousands of Christmas travellers hoping to cross the Irish Sea by ferry face disruption due to Storm Darragh damage The port of Holyhead – which provides the main ferry connection between Great Britain and Ireland – has been closed since last weekend, with no sailings to or from Dublin Normally Stena Line and Irish Ferries have four daily ferries each way between the Anglesey and the Irish capital. Hundreds of motorists and foot passengers use the link each day, with “Rail & Sail” fares offered from stations in Wales, England and Scotland to Dublin. The port was damaged during the wild weather that swept across Wales on 7 and 8 December. No injuries were reported. A spokesperson for the port said: “The ferry berths have remained closed to all marine traffic. Safety is of paramount importance to Holyhead Port and a thorough investigation into the extent of the damage and repairs required is ongoing.” “At this point, it is estimated that the berths will reopen for ferry traffic on Thursday 19 December at the earliest,” the spokesperson said. Stena Line has cancelled all sailings between Dublin and Holyhead until Friday 20 December. Sailings from Birkenhead to Dublin continue, as do the southern routes between Pembroke and Fishguard in southwest Wales and the Irish port of Rosslare. “We are currently assessing options for additional sailings to our ports in Birkenhead (Liverpool) and Fishguard,” Stena Line said. The closure has also caused concern in Ireland because of the number of Christmas parcels held up. Garrett Bridgeman, managing director of An Post, told RTE: “All the trucks that were queued up at Holyhead have been moved to Fishguard, Liverpool and other ports, all the traffic is being rerouted making its way to Ireland.” Assuming ferries on the route have resumed before Christmas, they will pause again on 25 December. Stena’s last scheduled departure from Holyhead is 2.45pm on 24 December, resuming at 9am on Boxing Day. All ferry services between Dublin and Holyhead were cancelled affecting thousands of people travelling to and from Ireland over the festive period A spokesperson for Holyhead Port said that the team were confident that alternative mooring arrangements were a successful solution “While we are relying on one berth for all ferry operations the ferries will run on an adjusted timetable we plan to facilitate a full schedule for both ferry operators from Terminal 5 on a temporary basis there will be no loss of capacity with up to eight daily sailings from the port across both companies,” they said Stena Line said that on the weekend Storm Darragh hit there were two incidents at the berth at Terminal 3 Stena Line will operate its normal sailing schedule of four sailings from Holyhead to Dublin with a revised timetable Stena Line Trade Director (Irish Sea South) said: "The last few weeks have been an extremely challenging time for our customers and staff The extended closure of the ferry berths at Holyhead Port at one of the busiest times of the year was unprecedented and I would like to thank our customers and staff for their patience and resilience "Now that the berth has been cleared to be safely reopened we moved quickly to put the resources in place to ensure that we could provide a fully operational service on our Holyhead – Dublin route from today onwards." There has been widespread concern at the effect the closure has had on the local economy said the area had felt "eerie" after the port's closure and had lost the "energy the port brings to the town." "Everybody knows somebody who's been directly impacted financially and it was a difficult time of year over Christmas as well," she added leader of Plaid Cymru and Member of the Senedd for Ynys Môn said: "This has had a massive impact on jobs in Holyhead but across north Wales too facing greater costs because of this "It's brought into question the resilience of the port itself in weather that we know is getting worse year after year.. "But there are still unanswered questions about what happens next what's going to have to be done to bring the other berth back up and running so we still need to make sure that we have those longer-term answers "We need to make sure that the berths themselves are also up to facing the ever more often storms that we are facing." A statement from Holyhead Port continued: “Until now our focus has been on bringing Terminal 5 back into operation Our attention will now shift to Terminal 3 and an assessment of the works required to bring it back into service We will provide an updated timeline for Terminal 3 as soon as possible “We appreciate the patience and understanding of all those affected by the closure and we’d like to thank our teams and stakeholders for their support and cooperation during this challenging time.” Start Date: 04/03/2025 | End Date: 26/07/2025 Work to upgrade the active travel network in the area surrounding junction 2 of the A55 This phase covers improvements to the Ty Mawr Interchange involving the construction of new footways providing pedestrian crossings across the A55 North Wales Expressway and construction of a new bridge parapet.  There will be slip roads closures and main carriageway closures in place A55 main carriageway full closure in both directions For further information, please contact Traffic Wales on 0300 123 1213 or via X or Facebook. The value of trade going though Holyhead Port was down by almost half a billion pounds after a sudden closure lasted almost six weeks The UK's second busiest port was forced to close from 7 December last year because of damage caused by two ferries making contact with one of the berthing terminals trade and rural affairs committee said it has been told by the Welsh Government that the value of trade going though Holyhead last December was almost half a billion less than the year before The port is not due to fully reopen until July this year Members of the Senedd committee expressed dismay at the “lack of speed and urgency” from the Welsh Government in responding to the closure of Wales’ busiest ferry port and has now published a report calling for a "lessons learned review" for Holyhead to be prepared and resilient in the future Wales' transport secretary Ken Skates announced a Welsh Government-led multi-stakeholder taskforce to develop a new strategy for the future of Holyhead said: “We heard of some firms reporting losses of tens of thousands of pounds We are very disappointed by the lack of speed and urgency in the Welsh Government’s response to the closure of a crucial European trade route “We have seen limited evidence that the Welsh Government has adequately addressed the issues caused by the closure It is local action and cooperation between ports that prevented Holyhead's closure from being even worse for Welsh trade and the wider economy “It is clear that the Welsh Government’s response was not acceptable – it was too slow to act and uncoordinated Many people were left in the dark because communications were not good enough - this must not happen again." The committee also said it's unclear who in the Welsh Government is responsible for the response and recovery efforts at the port calling for a ministerial lead to be appointed in future for incidents of a similar scale the committee said the Welsh Government must ensure Holyhead remains an attractive choice for trade after what it believes has been a lack of attention to both ports and freight in recent years "The disruption caused by the closure of the Port of Holyhead should have been a wake-up call to the Welsh and UK Governments about the importance of this key strategic trade route "If this had happened at the Port of Dover we know the response would have been swift and decisive "The long-term economic damage is still being felt and we need commitments to ensure Holyhead is never left vulnerable like this again a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “It is very disappointing the committee failed to seek clarification and detailed information about the efforts made to support freight and passenger movements prior to publishing their report "In conjunction with the private sector port operator and ferry companies we acted swiftly and effectively based on the information that was available to us as the scale and impact of the incident evolved "Our collective action helped manage the immediate impact of the closure and ensured that the impact on trade was mitigated wherever possible "We will provide a full response to the report in due course will be invaluable in allowing us to reflect on the port’s temporary closure in a more considered way as well as ensuring we safeguard the future resilience of Irish Sea routes." 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A golf club in Wales has been told to close its 18th hole after a neighbor complained about errant balls finding their way onto his land Anglesey County Council ruled in favor of the homeowner and insisted Holyhead Golf Club shut their par-4 finisher until further notice on health and safety grounds According to the Daily Post said the news came “out of the blue” and they “couldn’t face” becoming a 17-hole course they will need to raise more than £75,000 to build a new green “A neighbor said golf balls were leaving the boundary of the course and going onto their property,” a spokesman for the 113-year-old club explained “He has evidence balls were going into his garden and he raised the issue with the council I don’t know of any golf club in the country who can just find £80,000 out of thin air A spokesperson for Isle of Anglesey County Council said: “The County Council’s Public Protection team has served an improvement notice to Holyhead Golf Club under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 “The Council has a statutory duty to ensure the health and safety of golf course users as well as members of the public that may be affected by the golf course “Our Environmental Health officers continue to work closely with the golf club in relation to this matter.” The club has set up a GoFundMe page in order to raise money towards redeveloping its existing 8th and 18th greens It reads: “We are hoping the work is completed by May 1 and we will be up and running as an 18-hole golf course.” the club had raised more than £10,000 of their £15,000 goal Alex has been in the golf industry since 2007 and has helped shape a number of publications in that time He joined Today’s Golfer in January 2025 to lead the brand’s news division. He is a keen golfer who claims to play off 12 and enjoys traveling the world to try new courses and Royal Portrush – with special mentions for Okehampton and Bude & North Cornwall where he first fell in love with the game. He uses a combination of Ping and once bought the Nike SQ driver which he absolutely did not immediately regret By Alex Perry News editor and writer. Probably entertainer third. Irish Ferries has taken a significant step forward in its commitment to sustainability and innovation with the transition of its Dublin Swift service on the Dublin–Holyhead route to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) supplied by Circle K, Ireland’s leading fuel and convenience retailer As the first known international ferry company in the UK & Ireland to transition to HVO to power one of its ferries, this move marks a major milestone in the ferry sector, showcasing Irish Ferries’ dedication to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing environmental stewardship. Dublin Swift travels between Dublin and Holyhead in just 135 minutes making it the fastest service across the Irish Sea. Dublin Swift recommenced its seasonal operation on 16 April, 2025, when it will transition to using HVO.  Over the season, Irish Ferries aims to ramp up usage of HVO as a diesel alternative to 100% on all four engines, which would result in up to 90% less carbon emissions compared to conventional diesel.  This is part of Irish Ferries’ broader strategy to adopt cleaner energy solutions that reduces the impact of its operations on the environment and is a testament to the company’s proactive approach to integrating cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices. HVO is a completely fossil-free biofuel made from waste by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption from the food industry.  It can be used to power diesel vehicles which means it does not release any additional carbon emissions into the atmosphere and is a cleaner and more sustainable fuel option. By utilising HVO, Irish Ferries is not only reducing its carbon emissions but also contributing to the circular economy by repurposing waste materials. The transition to HVO is expected to lower the Dublin Swift service’s carbon footprint, making it one of the most eco-friendly ferry services in operation. Photo = Andrew Sheen, MD of Irish Ferries, and Paul Balfe, Commercial & BMS Director at Circle K, pictured as Irish Ferries announces a new partnership with Circle K, with the Dublin Swift now running on HVO fuel on the Dublin-Holyhead route. Ships monthly is published every month and has a cover price of £4.99 © 2024 Kelsey Media Ltd. 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People have been ferried to Ireland on alternative routes after the temporary closure of Holyhead port in an effort to get people home for Christmas, a Welsh Cabinet Secretary has said The busy ferry port in Anglesey, North Wales was forced to close following damage during Storm Darragh and is not set to reopen until January 15 at the earliest All ferry services between Dublin and Holyhead are currently cancelled upending travel plans for thousands in the festive season Conditions have been incredibly challenging across the UK but additional sailings from Wales and the Mersey area have taken place helping people and goods get to Ireland for Christmas But alternative sailings to Ireland have been taking place this weekend amid high winds and challenging conditions Gusts of up to 75mph were forecast for parts of the UK on Sunday, with wind warnings in force across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and large swathes of England. Welsh Transport Secretary Ken Skates said: “Conditions have been incredibly challenging across the UK, but additional sailings from Wales and the Mersey area have taken place, helping people and goods get to Ireland for Christmas. These sailings will continue. “I’d like to thank the ferry companies for their efforts in putting alternative sailings in place. I would urge anyone who is travelling to check the arrangements with their ferry company. “This is a challenge we have never faced before, but we’ll continue to work together with the UK and Irish governments to rescue the hopes and plans of people and businesses. “We will also work with the owners of Holyhead Port to get the facility back open as soon as possible, as it is a massively important facility for Ireland and the UK.” According to the Welsh Government, contingency plans are also in place for the New Year period. Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times A Senedd committee has criticised the Welsh Government’s response to Holyhead’s closure last December after it was revealed that the value of trade going through the port dropped by almost half a billion pounds In a report published on Thursday (April 3) the Senedd’s Economy Trade and Rural Affairs Committee said that Welsh ministers’ poor response was the main factor in the loss of trade The major link between north Wales and Dublin experienced a temporary closure in the winter of 2024 due to a storm which caused structural damage to two ferry berths Committee members expressed dismay at the “lack of speed and urgency” from Welsh ministers in responding to the closure of Wales’s busiest ferry port Following an inquiry and evidence gathering from key organisations the committee has called for a “lessons learned review” for Holyhead to be prepared and resilient in the future Trade and Rural Affairs Committee said: “Holyhead is the UK’s second busiest ferry port and last December’s storm damage We heard of some firms reporting losses of tens of thousands of pounds “We are very disappointed by the lack of speed and urgency in the Welsh Government’s response to the closure of a crucial European trade route “We have seen limited evidence that the Welsh Government has adequately addressed the issues caused by the closure It is local action and cooperation between ports that prevented Holyhead’s closure from being even worse for Welsh trade and the wider economy “It is clear that the Welsh Government’s response was not acceptable – it was too slow to act and uncoordinated Many people were left in the dark because communications were not good enough – this must not happen again “Ports and freight are vital to our economy and the Welsh Government has ignored these areas for too long We were promised new policies by last December but this has now been kicked into the long grass until next year – this is not good enough The committee says it was unclear to key organisations involved in the recovery efforts which minister was responsible for the Welsh Government’s response and that this confusion may have “exacerbated” problems with the reaction to the emergency It has recommended that in any similar future large scale and complex incidents the Welsh Government should agree a ministerial lead who will oversee and be held accountable for the management of the response Today’s report also highlights a “lack of urgency” in responding to requests to support affected businesses and a limited understanding of how the closure has impacted the local workforce The committee says it wants to see a clearer picture of the effects of job losses and lost working hours on households the Welsh Government should better understand the impact on workers and businesses and urgently decide what financial and other support is available for those affected by any port closures The committee also says the Welsh Government has shown a lack of attention to both ports and freight over recent years and is concerned about trade being diverted elsewhere ‘A new direction for HGV Drivers’ report was launched which provided recommendations for the Welsh Government on freight issues in particular how to address HGV driver shortages and related supply chain issues The committee says the Welsh Government should accelerate its work to implement the recommendations in the report and bring forward a maritime and ports strategy and freight plan as a matter of urgency the cabinet secretary for transport and north Wales announced the establishment of “a Welsh Government-led multi-stakeholder task-force to develop a new strategy for the future of Holyhead” The committee will closely monitor the work of this task-force and says it believes that its objectives should include: The Welsh Government will now be asked to respond to the committee’s report Ynys Môn MP Llinos Medi said: “The disruption caused by the closure of the Port of Holyhead should have been a wake-up call to the Welsh and UK Governments about the importance of this key strategic trade route “If this had happened at the Port of Dover The long-term economic damage is still being felt and we need commitments to ensure Holyhead is never left vulnerable like this again.” Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" On a small island far away about which we know very little and care less… Desolation Bay Care Home for political failures… So a little too much power going astern and hey presto; Heads up their ‘active travel’ cycle paths and wellness hubs… Presumably shareholders will be insured against losses No responsible business wastes money on resilience and disaster recovery plans Any wider impact on those that weren’t bothered enough to own a share is not their concern Connect with Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter If you would like to donate to help keep Nation.Cymru running then you just need to click on the box below it will open a pop up window that will allow you to pay using your credit / debit card or paypal Enter your email address to receive instant notifications of new articles All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018 In 2017 Nation.Cymru was launched after raising £5000 from a crowdfunding campaign Today it is one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK attracting over 1.5 million visitors a month We are not backed by billionaire owners or hidden behind a paywall but we depend on our readers' support to continue our work If everyone who visited the site over the course of a month donated at least £1 we would have enough funding for the next eight years To guarantee our future please consider making a donation today. You can read this article in 2 minutesPölös Zsófia Holyhead Port will begin to resume freight services on Thursday after being disrupted by Storm Darragh in December Holyhead Port in Wales, operated by Stena Line, is set to fully reopen for passenger and freight services following extensive disruptions caused by Storm Darragh, reports The Irish Independent. The severe weather, which struck in early December, reportedly damaged critical port infrastructure leading to the cancellation of ferry operations just before the Christmas period According to the Irish press,the port’s Terminal 5 berth is scheduled to reopen on January 16 restoring service capacity to pre-storm levels following discussions with Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan welcomed the announcement of the partial reopening next Thursday “The First Minister and I acknowledged the intensive engagement between ministers and industry on both sides over recent weeks to develop contingency arrangements,” Harris told the Irish Independent He emphasised the importance of continued cooperation to bolster sea connectivity between Ireland and Wales Harris also welcomed the Welsh Government’s formation of a taskforce to ensure Holyhead Port can meet the future demands of both nations including representation of Irish interests The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales says that the Welsh Government will continue to work on Holyhead Port The ferry terminal – which was badly damaged by Storm Darragh in December last year – has been temporarily closed while repairs were carried out over the past few weeks Stena have announced that their ferries can now sail at full capacity with the first ferry scheduled to set sail at 01:30 on 16 January from berth 5 The Welsh Government has been working closely with the Irish Government since the temporary closure of the port on 17 December 2024 This has included First Minister Eluned Morgan meeting with the Taoiseach last week where they discussed the on-going impact of the port’s closure on the movement of people and freight To help ensure long-term resilience of the port last week the Cabinet Secretary announced plans to establish a task force to work with Irish Ministers for Transport Stena and other key players in the Welsh and Irish ports and ferry industry The Cabinet hopes this will guarantee the port meets the future needs of both nations Ynys Môn MP Llinos Medi has welcomed the positive development as the port reopens but emphasised the need for government action to ensure the port’s full recovery and protect the viability of local businesses “The partial reopening of the Port of Holyhead is a positive step forward and I welcome the hard work that has gone into restoring some level of operations and seeing the port start to come back to life is very encouraging,” said MP Medi we cannot overlook the challenges that remain and workers have been deeply affected by the disruption While the adjusted ferry schedules will help they cannot fully compensate for the losses experienced over the past month we need a strong commitment from both the UK and Welsh governments to support businesses in the supply chain and ensure the port’s full recovery – something that has so far unfortunately been lacking.” “Co-ordination of this effort was greatly boosted as a result of the close co-operation between the Welsh Government and the Irish Government with the First Minister meeting with the Taoiseach as recently as last Friday.” “The collaboration and sharing of information in real-time informed the provision of alternative services and helped minimise traffic related impacts I am also grateful to the relevant UK Government Departments and Ministers local authorities and trade bodies for the part they have played in this task.” ferry companies and dedicated staff for their “patience and cooperation” for their work to reopen the port despite weather challenges Am I not the only one who is amazed that details of how the jetty collapsed have not been made public? See photos of rusty stanchions posted by an employee in the Daily Post nice meaningless claptrap from Ministers – “a plan to set up a taskforce” – ask a few lorry drivers and other regular travellers for their ideas