On 22nd March 2005 a huge crowd of onlookers descended upon Galway Harbour to view the Jumbo Spirit entering the harbour. The reason for such excitement was the fact that the Jumbo Spirit was the widest ship to have ever entered the harbour. Measuring 18.4 metres wide and carrying a large cargo for the new Tynagh powerplant, the ship had a mere 32 cms to spare as it came through the port entry to a chorus of cheers from the fascinated crowd. 

GALWAY HARBOUR CELEBRATES ARRIVAL OF MILLIONTH TONNE INTO THE PORT

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On Christmas Eve, Galway port celebrated the arrival of the millionth ton of cargo into the harbour, as an unprecedented year of success drew to a close.
Mr. Eamon Bradshaw, Chairman of the Harbour Board, marked the occasion by making a presentation to the Master of the Danish registered oil tanker Orahope, who had delivered the landmark cargo to Galway. Mr. Bradshaw described the achievement as a “milestone in the continuing success story of the harbour company, who continue to drive the port into the 21st Century.”
In the past ten years cargo growth at Galway port has soared, experiencing a staggering growth of 220% over the period. In 1995 the port handled 456,364 tonnes of cargo, brought into the harbour by 243 vessels. This year saw that figure reach a landmark million tonnes, with the number of vessels increasing to 426.
Over the course of 2005, the port accommodated 17 ships involved in the construction of the Tynagh Power Plant in the County. Harbour Master Captain Brian Sheridan believes that this co-operation serves to highlight the important role commercial ports such as Galway play in the continuing economic success of the country.
“Projects such as this highlight the importance of the country’s commercial ports in the success of the economy,” says Captain Sheridan, “I believe that regional commercial ports will continue to grow into the future, and that there will be a greater regional transport modal shift from road to sea as ever-rising fuel costs, the proliferation of tolls and the fact that shipping is the most environmentally friendly mode of transport, begin to bite.”
In 2004 the Harbour Board invested half a million towards the ports future in its acquisition of a modern mobile crane. The crane (a Sennebogen 640M/K2) has been involved in the discharge of commodities such as steel, coal, machinery, scrap metal and baled timber, while also being utilised to lift fishing and pleasure craft at the harbour.