‘We will deliver right up until Christmas Eve’: Massive efforts to clear Holyhead parcel backlog overnight

An Post received more than 350,000 parcels into hubs in Dublin, Portlaoise and Athlone from the UK overnight for processing and delivery tomorrow and into early next week.

The last of approximately 150,000 parcels set for Ireland have now been re-routed to other UK ports.

An Post this morning said it has the “facilities, technology and staff” across its hubs to deliver the parcels to homes and businesses around Ireland.

Ferry sailings between Ireland and Wales were cancelled due to damage caused by Storm Darragh at Holyhead.

Holyhead report they will re-open their port on Thursday, December 19 but the closure resulted in delays for hundreds of thousands of parcels with less than a fortnight to Christmas.

“There is ongoing speculation as to a resumption date for ferry traffic through Holyhead but as of this morning, the last of the 150,000 UK parcels destined for An Post and affected by the port closure have been re-routed to other UK ports,” a spokesperson for An Post said in the latest update.

“Many UK retailers are working with ferry companies to secure alternative routes on larger vessels into Ireland while Holyhead remains closed.

“Larger capacity ferries are now accessing Ireland from Wales, Scotland and Liverpool via Rosslare Europort, Larne and Dublin Port, and will continue to do so right up to Christmas and into New Year 2025.”

Managing Director at An Post Commerce Garrett Bridgeman told RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland earlier today that they are confident people will receive their parcels on time for Christmas, if they ordered their items before Storm Darragh.

He advised people buying Christmas gifts this week to shop locally as the backlog may not guarantee delivery for fresh orders from the UK before Christmas.

“It’s all moving now. We received over 350,000 parcels overnight which we are currently sorting,” Mr Bridgeman said.

“About 150,000 parcels remained in Holyhead and they are now being rerouted around the UK. But this is not a problem for us. We have all our staff, our automated facilities, our casual employees for this time of year. It won’t be a problem and we will deliver it all right up to Christmas Eve.”

Mr Bridgeman continued: “All the trucks that were queued up at Holyhead have been moved to Fishguard, Liverpool and other ports, all the traffic is being rerouted making its way to Ireland.

“This is a huge issue for the haulage industry but this traffic will arrive in, it will be delivered,” he added.

An Post are now advising people that if they ordered an item “pre Storm Darragh” they can expect to receive it in coming days.

“Retailers’ websites are really good for updates,” Mr Bridgeman said.

“They keep their trackers updated daily.

“But if you are planning to buy between now and Christmas, we advise you to shop local and from Irish retailers.

“Irish retailers have an amazing offering. Half of the ecommerce in Ireland is from Irish retailers.

“If you are buying from a UK website check the delivery.”

Mr Bridgeman added that deliveries will be made right up to, and including, Christmas Eve.

An Post’s latest date for posting parcels in Ireland is Saturday, December 21. And their final date for posting Christmas cards and small letters with guaranteed arrival for Christmas is Sunday, December 22.

However, President of the Irish Road Haulage Association Ger Hyland stressed this morning the pressure hauliers are now under this week.

“There are significant delays in Rosslare, Fishguard, Pembroke. From our experience and knowledge, we will struggle this week,” he said.

Fears

There were fears yesterday that parcels stuck in Holyhead would not arrive on time for Christmas.

An Post CEO David McRedmond said the closure was a “really big issue” for both the Irish and British governments.

“We have 300-plus trailers at Holyhead, in a line over 4km long,” he told the Irish Independent yesterday, adding that they had been diverting some through Liverpool and Fishguard.

Pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, and packages ordered online, including electronics bought in Black Friday sales, were named as the products that were likely to be held up in the backlog.

Infrastructural damage was caused to ferry berths at the port during Storm Darragh last Saturday and it has remained closed to marine traffic ever since.

The Irish Independent reported that the Department of Transport is now helping with contingency plans.

“The Department continues to liaise with all stakeholders, including other national ports, to address the ongoing challenges to the supply chain,” it said in a statement. “From today additional capacity is being provided from Rosslare.

“Irish Ferries is assigning the MV James Joyce to replace the Inishfree. This represents approximately 50pc extra capacity.

“While the Port of Cork currently has no direct UK sailings, it has indicated that it has the capacity to operate one sailing a day, possibly two based on scheduling.

“Solutions for the medium term, if necessary, are also under consideration.”

It has been reported that the 212-metre, 43,532-tonne Adventurer, operated by Stena, did a sailing from Fishguard Harbour on Wednesday in a bid to help ease the backlog at Holyhead.

Dublin Port has said it is not experiencing a backlog, a message that was repeated by the Department of Transport.

Officials said they had been in contact with port authorities since the weekend to liaise on contingency plans, but the department stressed: “There is no such congestion occurring in or around Dublin Port at present.”

Dublin Port said sailings continued to operate from there, with seven roll-on roll-off departures a day to Liverpool, Heysham and Birkenhead.

Exporters say it will take several days to clear the backlog at Holyhead whenever that port re-opens.

Eugene Drennan, president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, said the reaction to the shutdown has been “too slow, yet again”.