Dublin Port has benefited from the switching of ferry traffic from Dún Laoghaire, according to a report out this afternoon from the Irish Maritime Development Office.
However overall, it says, ferry traffic between Britain and Ireland has dropped, though more Irish people are travelling by ferry to France.
The total number of passengers travelling by ferry from Ireland to Britain was down by 130,000 in the first part of the year, compared to 2008.
'Subdued' consumer demand is the reason given by the Maritime Development Office – the body charged with developing marine business - in its half-yearly passenger traffic report.
But surprisingly, Dublin Port showed a different pattern, with growth of 14%, which is attributed to the moving of vessel capacity from Dún Laoghaire. Stena Line reduced its trips on the Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead route and increased services on Dublin-Holyhead.
The sterling to euro exchange rate is one of the reasons the report gives for the fall-off in cross channel travel.
In contrast, ferry passenger traffic to France - where Irish people found better euro value than at home - is up by 4%.
