IE Prefix and Three-character Code
Irish UN/LOCODEs begin with the ISO 3166-1 country prefix IE and are followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, IEDUB identifies Dublin and IECOK identifies Cork.
Seaports in Ireland: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Ireland has 107 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting container, ferry, bulk, energy and regional maritime trade on the Atlantic and Irish Sea approaches.
Use the code directory to identify Irish gateways and compare routing options for international sea freight.
Ireland Port Overview
Ireland’s port system combines major east-coast container and ferry facilities with Atlantic bulk, energy, fishing and regional cargo ports. Indexed coverage and published national statistics are different measures: the figure below is the Ecer Freight database count, not a national legal count of every harbour.
107
Ireland ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Oct 2026
—
National port freight tonnage, 2025; YoY change published by the official release
CSO Ireland · 2025 release
—
National container throughput in TEU, 2025; YoY change not consolidated here
Department of Transport · 2025 statistics
—
National commercial-berth total, 2025; YoY change not stated in a single comparable series
Irish port authorities · 2025 reports
How many seaports does Ireland have?
Ireland has 107 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its October 2026 database snapshot. This indexed figure should not be confused with a statutory national harbour count.
What is Ireland’s largest or busiest port?
Dublin (IEDUB) is generally Ireland’s leading commercial gateway by overall freight and ferry activity, while the exact ranking depends on whether the measure is tonnes, containers, passengers or vehicle units.
Which regions handle Ireland’s main sea freight?
The principal freight clusters are the east coast around Dublin (IEDUB), the south coast around Cork (IECOK), and the Shannon Estuary and west coast around Limerick (IELIM), Foynes (IEFOV) and Galway (IEGWY).
Top Irish Ports by Commercial Importance
The sample below follows Ecer Freight’s activity ordering and identifies the principal Irish gateways and cargo locations. A single, directly comparable 2025 global TEU league table and year-on-year series is not published for every Irish port, so unavailable ranking fields are shown consistently as em dashes rather than estimated.
Selected Ireland ports and terminals; 2025 TEU figures require confirmation from the relevant port authority.
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Dublin | IEDUB | — | — | East coast |
| — | Cork | IECOK | — | — | South coast |
| — | Whitegate | IEWHI | — | — | South coast |
| — | Cork | IEORK | — | — | South coast |
| — | Limerick | IELIM | — | — | Shannon Estuary |
| — | Shannon | IESNN | — | — | Shannon Estuary |
| — | Foynes | IEFOV | — | — | Shannon Estuary |
| — | Drogheda | IEDRO | — | — | East coast |
| — | Rosslare | IEROS | — | — | South-east coast |
| — | New Ross | IENRS | — | — | South-east coast |
Ireland Port Regions and Cargo Roles
East Coast and Dublin Gateway
The east coast is the main interface with Irish consumer markets, distribution centres and regular Irish Sea and continental services.
Selected east-coast locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | IEDUB | Dublin / — | Containers, trailers, Ro-Ro and general cargo |
| Drogheda | IEDRO | Drogheda / — | Bulk, breakbulk and regional cargo |
| Dundalk | IEDDK | Dundalk / — | Regional and project cargo |
| Dun Laoghaire | IEDLG | Dun Laoghaire / — | Passenger and local maritime services |
| Howth | IEHOW | Howth / — | Fishing and local maritime activity |
South Coast and Cork Harbour
Cork Harbour and nearby facilities serve deep-sea, energy, bulk and regional cargo flows on the south coast.
Selected south-coast locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cork | IECOK | Cork / — | Containers, bulk, Ro-Ro and general cargo |
| Cork | IEORK | Cork / — | Port and harbour cargo operations |
| Whitegate | IEWHI | Whitegate / — | Energy and liquid bulk |
| Cobh | IECOB | Cobh / — | Passenger, cruise and harbour services |
| Waterford | IEWAT | Waterford / — | Bulk, breakbulk and regional freight |
Shannon Estuary and West Coast
The Shannon Estuary supports industrial, bulk and project cargo, with Atlantic-facing facilities serving western and mid-western Ireland.
Selected Shannon Estuary and west-coast locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limerick | IELIM | Limerick / — | General, bulk and regional cargo |
| Shannon | IESNN | Shannon / — | Industrial and regional cargo |
| Foynes | IEFOV | Foynes / — | Bulk, project and industrial cargo |
| Galway | IEGWY | Galway / — | Regional, fishing and project cargo |
| Killybegs | IEKGS | Killybegs / — | Fishing, food and bulk cargo |
South-east and Regional Ferry Gateways
South-eastern ports connect regional supply chains with short-sea, ferry, agricultural and general cargo movements.
Selected south-eastern locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosslare | IEROS | Rosslare / — | Ferry, Ro-Ro and accompanied freight |
| New Ross | IENRS | New Ross / — | Bulk, timber and general cargo |
| Waterford | IEWAT | Waterford / — | Bulk and breakbulk distribution |
| Wexford | IEWEX | Wexford / — | Regional and coastal cargo |
| Dunmore East | IEDUN | Dunmore East / — | Fishing and regional maritime activity |
Ireland Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
City and Terminal Codes
A city-level code can represent a wider port area, while a terminal-level entry may identify a ferryport, quay, oil facility or other operating location. The exact code should match the bill of lading, booking and customs records.
How to Verify a Code
Compare the location against the UNECE UN/LOCODE directory and the Ecer Freight port code database. Confirm the terminal name with the carrier before booking.
Shipping from Ireland: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times are indicative port-to-port ranges. Actual schedules depend on transshipment, carrier rotation, equipment availability, customs clearance and seasonal conditions.
Ireland to United Kingdom
Short-sea and Ro-Ro services connect Irish exporters and importers with British distribution networks.
Ireland to Northern Europe
Direct and feeder services link Irish cargo with continental hubs and major consumer markets.
Ireland to Mediterranean
Mediterranean cargo commonly moves through northern European hubs or scheduled feeder connections.
Ireland to Asia and North America
Long-haul container cargo generally uses transshipment hubs, with routing selected according to service frequency and final destination.
Sources and Methodology
The page separates Ecer Freight’s indexed port coverage from official operational statistics. Published port figures may use different definitions, fiscal periods and cargo categories.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party snapshot of 107 Ireland ports and terminals, reviewed in October 2026.
- UNECE UN/LOCODE — international location-code reference used for code verification.
- Central Statistics Office Ireland — official transport and maritime statistical releases where applicable.
- Ireland Department of Transport — national transport policy, port and maritime information.
- Dublin Port Company — port-specific operational, cargo and annual-report information.
- Port of Cork — port-specific facilities and cargo information for Cork Harbour.
Ireland Port FAQ
How many seaports does Ireland have?
Ireland has 107 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the October 2026 database snapshot. The figure is indexed coverage, not a statutory count of every harbour.
What is the main port in Ireland?
Dublin, code IEDUB, is generally Ireland’s principal commercial gateway by combined freight and ferry activity. Rankings can vary by tonnes, TEU, Ro-Ro units and passenger volumes.
What do Ireland port codes look like?
Ireland UN/LOCODEs use the IE country prefix followed by three characters, such as IEDUB for Dublin, IECOK for Cork and IEFOV for Foynes.
Which Irish regions are important for freight?
The main freight clusters are the east coast around Dublin, the south coast around Cork, the Shannon Estuary around Limerick and Foynes, and south-eastern ferry gateways such as Rosslare.
How current are the Ireland port figures?
The Ecer Freight port index reflects an October 2026 snapshot. Official port statistics are generally based on the latest complete reporting year, identified here as 2025, and remain subject to later revisions.
Can a freight forwarder quote an Ireland shipment?
Yes. A valid quotation normally requires origin and destination, cargo description, dimensions or container type, weight, Incoterms, sailing preference and customs requirements. Rates and schedules remain subject to carrier confirmation.
Are all indexed Ireland locations container ports?
No. The 107 indexed locations include ports and terminals with different roles, including containers, ferry and Ro-Ro services, bulk, energy, fishing, passenger and regional cargo operations.
Editorial note: This guide combines the Ecer Freight port index with official Irish statistical and port-authority sources. Indexed port coverage is reviewed with the database snapshot, while operational statistics and sailing information are updated as authoritative releases become available; figures remain subject to source definitions and later revisions.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Ireland: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact