A major UK port, closed due to the impact of Storm Darragh more than a week ago, will remain out of action until January 15, resulting in further disruptions to Christmas deliveries and trade between the UK and Ireland.
Holyhead port in Anglesey, Wales is the primary sea route between north Wales and Dublin and handles around 60 percent of freight coming into Ireland.
An extratropical cyclone which struck the UK from December 5-9, Storm Darragh brought waves crashing against the coastline and winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour, causing significant damage to the port infrastructure.
Stena Line, which owns the port, initially announced its closure until December 20 to conduct underwater inspections.
Lorries disembark from a Stena Line ferry recently arrived from Dublin at the Port of Holyhead in Holyhead last January. /Phil Noble/Reuters
A Holyhead Port spokesperson 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. Regrettably, 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, to resume ferry services.
"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."
The news has sparked widespread concerns, with Holyhead's closure already creating severe logistical challenges for both the UK and Ireland. Around 1,200 trucks and trailers normally make the crossing daily, facilitating vital exports and imports. The interruption has already delayed the flow of goods, including key Christmas deliveries.
Ireland's national postal service, An Post, has also been impacted. The service had planned to utilize Holyhead for its Christmas operations but has since been forced to redirect efforts elsewhere. Despite the setback, An Post reports that it has almost cleared the resulting backlog.
Ireland's Taoiseach (prime minister) Simon Harris described the situation as a "serious concern".
Stena Line has sought to mitigate the impact by diverting freight and passenger services through alternative ports. Despite these measures, businesses reliant on the seasonal surge in trade remain heavily affected. Many firms on both sides of the Irish Sea face significant financial strain, with further delays posing a major risk to struggling industries.
The port's closure has underscored the fragility of supply chains during extreme weather events. For now, businesses, logistics operators, and government officials remain in a tense waiting game as the situation develops.