Ports, Policy & Modal Shifts with Howard Knott of the Irish Exporters association

In this episode of Interlinks I’m joined by Howard Knott, Project Director at the Irish Exporters Association and columnist at Fleet Transport magazine—one of Ireland’s most experienced commentators on freight, logistics, and trade. We unpack how recent shocks and policy shifts are reshaping Ireland–UK–EU connectivity and what that really means for shippers, carriers, and supply-chain leaders.

In this episode we talk about the following:L Holyhead port’s full reopening: timetable changes, capacity effects, and competitive responses (e.g., direct Ireland–EU services and CLdN’s Liverpool frequencies) Landbridge vs. direct-to-continent: post-Brexit frictions, emerging UK–EU facilitation, and decision criteria for exporters Structural shift from Ro-Ro (driver-accompanied) to Lo-Lo (containerised): reliability, tracking tech, cost-to-serve, and reduced driver dependence HGV driver shortages and how unaccompanied/container flows plus cross-border partnerships are bridging capability gaps Rail freight in Ireland: new rolling stock, Waterford’s intermodal traction, Limerick–Foynes reopening, current bottlenecks (drivers, terminals, Dublin rail access), and what it would take to lift modal share Port strategy and resilience: Fishguard redevelopment, Rosslare/Waterford/Cork/Foynes roles, shore-power and alternative fuels readiness Practical new routings: Brittany Ferries + Cherbourg–Spain rail link as a viable Spain solution during peak ferry constraints

This episode translates big shifts—Brexit recalibration, infrastructure disruptions, sustainability targets—into concrete choices: diversify routings and modes, lean into Lo-Lo with modern visibility, build continental partnerships, prepare for rail where feasible, and press for policy that prices carbon and supports rail economics. In short, it’s a playbook for turning volatility into optionality—so Irish and international manufacturers can protect service levels, lower end-to-end cost and risk, and hit ESG goals without sacrificing competitiveness.

Patrick Daly ★ The Macro-to-Micro Strategist™╽ Turning Global Turbulence into Operational Clarity ╽ Helping Business Leaders Build Resilient, Profitable Supply Chains ╽ Multilingual Trusted Advisor ╽ Call/WhatsApp ☎️ +353868116030 ╽ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.