Young Persons Site Visit 2010

This year’s young person’s site visit saw 14 members visit Belfast Harbour on a very wet morning in March. 

The day began with a presentation from David Knott from Belfast Harbour, in the Moreland Room.  David gave the group an excellent insight into the history or Belfast Port, its current operations and the challenges facing the future development of the area.  He spoke of the harbours progress towards OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 and that the port is the first in the world to achieve carbon neutrality.  Find his presentation here NI CIHT belfast harbour presentation

Ian Spratt then gave us a guided tour of the Harbour Office.  The building was first constructed in 1854 and extended in 1895.  It houses artwork from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and a number of French and Italian sculptures and bronzes.  One of the most prized pieces is the original table intended for Edward Smith, Captain of the Titanic.  The table was delivered too late and is now housed in the Harbour office.

A bus tour of the Port estate followed lunch.  Unfortunately the deteriorating weather conditions kept everyone on the bus but we visited the new Stena Terminal on Victoria Channel, the developments in Titanic Quarter and the industrial areas on Herdman Channel and Airport Road West.

The trip was very informative and gave the participants an excellent overview of the port operations and an appreciation of the importance of Belfast Harbour to the Northern Irish economy.

The CIHT would like to thank Belfast Harbour Commissionaires and especially David Knott and Ian Spratt for their time and hospitality.

NI CIHT Belfast Harbour visit