| It has been a good news year for Cork Harbour in 2013. Over €50 million of new funding has been awarded to many exciting projects around the harbour, and the benefits should be felt around the entire region over the next few years. Added to this is the €40m funding secured last year for the cleanup of the East Tip on Haulbowline Island, and the €30 million Lower Harbour Energy Groups investment in wind turbines. Here is a breakdown of how much of that funding is to be spent. Beaufort Research and MAREI project – €44.2m Construction is to begin on the new €15.2 million Beaufort Research Laboratory in Ringaskiddy in the coming weeks. This is to be UCC’s footprint on the IMERC Campus, and the laboratory will house the National Ocean Test Facility and more than 100 researchers when completed in 2015. The building will stand adjacent to the NMCI in Ringaskiddy and will help position Ireland at the forefront of global maritime and energy research for academia and industry. The construction phase of the project will see the creation of a further 200 jobs and is expected to take 12 months. As the sod was being turned on the site of the new laboratory, Beaufort Research received a major boost when the €29million MAREI project, which will be lead by the centre, received funding through Science Foundation Ireland earlier this year. MAREI will be part of the largest ever state/industry co-funded research investment in Ireland, and will accelerate the development of the marine renewable energy sector in Ireland. This will give Ireland's maritime economy a huge boost and will be a great start for Beaufort Research. The project aims to stimulate 2,000 jobs by 2020, attract new foreign direct investment, and spawn new start up companies. Infrastructure Investment by the Port of Cork - €3m In July, the Port of Cork announced an investment of €3 million in new plant equipment following an agreement with crane manufacturer, Liebherr. The investment includes a new LHM 550 Harbour Mobile Crane, which will be in operation at Ringaskiddy Deep-water Berth. Spike Island Tourism Development - €4m In 2013, Fáilte Ireland sanctioned funding of €2.5m for the Spike Island tourism project, which will help deliver on the potential of the island as a major tourist destination. Cork County Council are to add a further €1.5m. A recent report on Spike suggested that 300,000 visitors could be attracted to the island once some key infrastructure is in place. Phase 1 of the recently compiled master plan for the island can now proceed which will deliver key infrastructure such as an interpretive centre in Fort Mitchell. The master plan, compiled by a team of experts, led by Scott Tallon Walker and destination specialists, CHL Consulting, details the magnificent opportunity to create a new 100 acre national park on the water, with the 40 acre Mitchel Fort at its centre, renovated and developed as a complex of cultural heritage attractions and museums. IMERC Master Plan - €1.3m €1.3m was secured in the recent budget to support the IMERC master plan, which aims to develop an expanded campus in Ringaskiddy, adding to National Maritime College, Beaufort Research Laboratory and Naval Service infrastructure. IMERC promotes Ireland as a world-renowned research and development location and aims to harness and integrate diverse research and industry expertise. New Wind Turbines for Cork Harbour - €30 million Construction has also began on the Cork Lower Harbour Energy Group’s wind turbines in the Ringaskiddy area. Three turbines are due to be fully built and operational by May 2014. The total investment in the harbour area over the course of this project is around €30 million with each of the 6 planned turbines generating between 2 and 3 MW of power. East Tip Remediation - €40m Following extensive public consultation a year ago, the proposed cleanup and remediation of the former ISPAT site on Haulbowline, also known as the East Tip, is progressing. Cork County Council , who are leading the €40m cleanup project, submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála in October seeking permission to remediate the East Tip and transform it into a public recreational amenity. Waste licence applications have also been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency. This project received the green light in January 2012 when Simon Coveney TD secured funding from the cabinet to finally address the issue of the former Irish Steel site. Related links for this article Beaufort Research website Haulbowline Remediation Updates |
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