Dublin SafePort, a collaborative safety initiative at Dublin Port, has garnered international acclaim. The International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA) awarded it the ‘Safe, Efficient & Secure Port Award’ at its congress in Tanger Med, Morocco. This accolade highlights operational leadership from IHMA’s global membership, spanning 50 countries. Dublin SafePort was praised as a model of excellence in terms of impact and collaboration.
Captain Michael McKenna, Dublin Port Harbour Master and Dublin SafePort Chair, expressed his pride: “The embedded safety culture and alignment of procedures across the unitised terminals have been achieved through collaboration. These enhanced safety relationships support the delivery and operation of new and upgraded infrastructure at the Port.”
Dublin Port is a bustling hub, managing around 50 ship movements and 11,000 vehicles daily, enabling €80 billion in trade annually. Despite the high activity levels, Dublin SafePort ensures safety remains a top priority, even as parts of the port open to the public through cultural initiatives.
McKenna emphasized the importance of a unified safety culture: “Through SafePort, we’ve aligned practices around Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), speed limits, and other procedures, significantly increasing health and safety awareness across the 261-hectare Port estate. This international award is a testament to the dedication of everyone at the 11 partners of Dublin SafePort.”
Launched in 2022, Dublin SafePort is the result of extensive collaboration between Dublin Port Company and six unitised terminal operators: Dublin Ferryport Terminals, Shipping Group, Irish Ferries, Peel Ports Group (MTL), Seatruck Ferries (now CLdN RoRo Ltd), and Stena Line. These operators account for approximately 75% of the port workers at Dublin Port.
The initiative has expanded to include An Garda Síochána, Revenue, HSE, and North Quay Associates, all of whom have significant staff presence across the unitised terminals. Under Dublin SafePort, safety awareness campaigns, training, and initiatives are conducted port-wide, aiming to enhance long-term safety culture and practices.
The IHMA is a professional membership association dedicated to the safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally sound conduct of marine operations in port waters. It unites Harbour Masters and port operations managers from over 50 countries, providing a wealth of hands-on expertise in port and maritime operations.
