Captain Michael McCarthy provides viewpoint on Leahill Port activity at Bantry Bay

Extracted from PES Wind Issue 4 (2025): 

"Ireland’s offshore wind at risk from port blind spot" by Captain Michael McCarthy, MMCC Port Marine Ltd.

"Ireland has the resources to become a major exporter of clean energy, but without urgent investment in specialised seaports, its offshore wind targets are slipping out of reach. Bantry Bay’s Leahill Port could play a pivotal role in bridging this critical infrastructure gap and securing Ireland’s place in Europe’s renewable future...

Leahill Port Limited, in Bantry Bay, a private operation on Ireland’s southern coast, is developing port infrastructure, specifically to support Ireland in meeting the above 2030-2050 targets and beyond. Bantry Bay is a deep and wide inlet. Its unimpeded access, sheltered waters, and safe anchorage mean it is regularly used as a refuge for shipping in the Atlantic during adverse weather.

The bay is ideally suitable for the wet storage and safe anchorage of floating foundations and is proximate to a large number of pipeline ORE projects. The port project has been underway for some years, and much preparatory work has already been undertaken...

Focusing resources and future port development for FLOW at Bantry will help to address the current infrastructural gaps in a timely and efficient manner. This will be essential for Ireland to harness its full ORE potential in deeper waters, meeting its renewable energy security targets, and setting its position as a leader in Europe’s renewable energy transition. Sharing risk between governments, investors, and developers is vital to scale FLOW with confidence, as predictability will build confidence for investment."

To read the full article, please visit Wind Issue 4 - 2025 (Pages 114-117)