British ports group Mersey Docks & Harbour Company says volumes handled by its Dublin subsidiary Marine Terminals dropped in the first half of this year.
The company said the drop - to 38,000 units from 43,000 in the same period last year - reflected some temporary loss of business after a 10-week strike late last year over operating hours.
Mersey Docks said a new shift system had now been implemented and operational performance had improved significantly. The Dublin operation is to be extended by six acres next month and the company says it will also benefit in the second half from the closure of the Coastal terminal, whose business will be transferred to Marine Terminals.
The parent company's first half pre-tax profits rose by 6% to £29.2m sterling on 24% higher turnover of £125m.
