Greenore and Greencastle are just 1.1 miles apart by sea but 32 miles apart by road
Frazer Ferries Ltd have applied for a foreshore license at Greenore Port.
The Limerick-based company are hoping to run a car ferry from the peninsula port to Greencastle in Co Down.
The journey is just 1.1 miles by sea but 32 miles apart by land.
Last August Frazer Ferries were granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanala for the ferry terminal at Greenore after an initial acceptance by Louth County Council was appealed by the local Tidy Towns’ group and Greencastle Area Residents Group.
The proposal by Limerick-based Frazer Ferries would see the construction of a reinforced concrete slipway, 60 metres in length, at Greenore. It would be supported by seven vertical tubular berthing and fender piles on the southern side to facilitate ferry berthing.
Frazer Ferries also propose to relocate the existing port entrance gates and weighbridge, as well as carrying out modifications to the entrance road layout.
They wish to demolish part of the gable walls of an existing shed on the site to allow through access for vehicles, with the hard stand area to be used for parking and queuing.
As well as the facilities at Greenore, the proposal would also see the construction of a reinforced concrete suspended pier, 58 metres in length, at Greencastle. It would be supported by vertical tubular piles and a reinforced concrete slipway that would be 70 metres in length to allow vehicular access to the ferry.
The company are also looking to build berthing facilities to tie up vessels overnight, while they also propose to upgrade and widen part of the Greencastle Pier Road.
At present it takes just under an hour to drive from Greenore to Greencastle, with a ferry trip able to vastly shorten the journey time.
It is estimated that somewhere around 18 new jobs would be created should the project go ahead, with 11 of those jobs being based in Louth. It is estimated that the ferry would operate for 350 days of the year and prove a substantial boost to tourism in the area.
The Foreshore Application, Environmental Impact Statement, associated documents, all relevant maps, site plans and drawings may be inspected at the following locations: Dundalk Garda Station, Dundalk, County Louth, Carlingford Library, Newry Street, Carlingford and Louth County Council, County Hall, Millennium Centre, Dundalk.
The hope is to have the ferry operational by next April with the piles for the pontoons of the car ferry being driven into Carlingford Lough this week.
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