IE Prefix and Three-Character Structure
A standard UN/LOCODE for Ireland begins with IE. For example, IEDUB identifies Dublin and IECOK identifies Cork in the supplied port dataset.
Seaports in Ireland: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Ireland has 107 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting short-sea shipping, ferry traffic, energy cargo, bulk commodities and international containerised trade.
Ireland's maritime gateways connect the island with the United Kingdom, continental Europe, the Atlantic trade network and global transshipment hubs.
Ireland Port Overview
Ireland's port system combines major commercial ports with ferry terminals, oil terminals, fishing ports and smaller coastal facilities. The indexed count below is an Ecer Freight database coverage figure and should not be confused with a national statutory count or a container-port league-table ranking.
107
Ireland ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
—
National seaport freight tonnage, 2025; no consolidated official figure verified
CSO Ireland · 2025 data review
—
National container throughput in TEU, 2025; port-level reporting varies
CSO Ireland / port authorities · 2025
—
National commercial berth total, 2025; no single consolidated official figure verified
Irish port authorities · 2025
How many seaports does Ireland have?
Ireland has 107 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage figure rather than a statutory national port count.
Which is Ireland's largest or busiest commercial port?
Dublin is generally Ireland's largest commercial gateway by combined ferry, ro-ro, container and general cargo activity. The principal UN/LOCODE is IEDUB; exact rankings depend on the cargo measure and reporting year.
Which areas handle Ireland's main maritime freight flows?
The east coast gateway around Dublin, the southern Cork hub and the Shannon Estuary cluster around Limerick and Foynes are the main freight areas. Cork is represented by IECOK, while Foynes is represented by IEFOV.
Top Ports in Ireland by Commercial Relevance
The following ports are ordered using the supplied Ecer Freight activity sequence, which prioritises practical commercial relevance in the indexed dataset. A verified, comparable 2025 world-rank and container-throughput series is not available for every Irish port, so unverified figures are not substituted with estimates.
Ireland port reference table · 2025 container throughput where an official comparable figure is available
| 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 |
| — | Limerick | IELMK | — | — | Shannon Estuary |
Ireland Port Regions and Cargo Roles
East Coast and Dublin Gateway
The east coast cluster serves Ireland's largest population and distribution market, with Dublin focused on unitised cargo, ferry services, containers and general freight.
East Coast ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | IEDUB | Dublin / — | Containers, ro-ro, ferries and general cargo |
| Drogheda | IEDRO | Drogheda / — | Dry bulk, project cargo and regional freight |
| Dun Laoghaire | IEDLG | Dun Laoghaire / — | Passenger, ferry and marine services |
| Dundalk | IEDDK | Dundalk / — | Coastal and regional cargo |
| Howth | IEHOW | Howth / — | Fishing, passenger and coastal activity |
Southern Cork and South Coast
The Cork area combines deep-water commercial facilities, energy-related terminals, cruise activity and coastal ports serving southern Ireland.
Southern ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cork | IECOK | Cork / — | Containers, bulk, ro-ro, cruise and general cargo |
| Cork | IEORK | Cork / — | Commercial and coastal port services |
| Whitegate | IEWHI | Whitegate / — | Energy and liquid bulk operations |
| Cobh | IECOB | Cobh / — | Passenger, cruise and marine services |
| Kinsale | IEKIN | Kinsale / — | Coastal, fishing and marine activity |
| Bantry | IEBYT | Bantry / — | Liquid bulk, offshore and coastal cargo |
Shannon Estuary and Western Gateway
The Shannon Estuary provides deep-water access for bulk, industrial and project cargo, with Limerick, Shannon and Foynes serving different parts of the regional logistics network.
Shannon Estuary ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limerick | IELIM | Limerick / — | Bulk, general cargo and regional distribution |
| Limerick | IELMK | Limerick / — | Commercial and river-estuary cargo services |
| Shannon | IESNN | Shannon / — | Industrial, bulk and project cargo |
| Foynes | IEFOV | Foynes / — | Dry bulk, breakbulk and project cargo |
| Kilrush | IEKSH | Kilrush / — | Coastal and estuary services |
| Clarecastle | IECLA | Clarecastle / — | Regional and inland-estuary cargo |
South-East and Atlantic Coast
The south-east and Atlantic coast support ferry links, bulk cargo, fishing, coastal distribution and specialist marine operations.
South-East and Atlantic ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosslare | IEROS | Rosslare / — | Ro-ro, ferry and accompanied freight |
| New Ross | IENRS | New Ross / — | Bulk, general and regional cargo |
| Waterford | IEWAT | Waterford / — | Bulk, breakbulk and general cargo |
| Killybegs | IEKGS | Killybegs / — | Fishing, seafood and project cargo |
| Galway | IEGWY | Galway / — | Regional, project and marine cargo |
| Sligo | IESLI | Sligo / — | Regional and coastal cargo |
Ireland Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
Ireland port codes use the ISO 3166-1 country prefix IE followed by a three-character location identifier. A code should be checked against the specific port, terminal or operational location used in the shipping instruction.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Codes
One commercial area may have more than one code in operational databases. City-level entries and terminal-level entries can therefore appear separately, especially where ferryports, oil facilities or specialist terminals are recorded.
How to Verify an Ireland Port Code
Compare the booking instruction, bill of lading and carrier schedule with the current UNECE UN/LOCODE reference, then cross-check the available Ireland entries in the Ecer Freight port directory.
Shipping from Ireland: Main Trade Lanes
Ireland's shipping patterns are shaped by short-sea links with the United Kingdom and Europe, direct services where available, and transshipment connections through major continental hubs. Transit times are indicative and subject to sailing schedules, port calls, customs processing and equipment availability.
Ireland to United Kingdom
A core short-sea lane for retail, food, manufacturing inputs, trailers and time-sensitive cargo.
Ireland to Northern Europe
Direct and connecting services support containerised exports and imports between Ireland and continental European markets.
Ireland to Mediterranean Europe
Mediterranean cargo commonly moves through scheduled European connections and hub-port transshipment arrangements.
Ireland to North America and Asia
Long-haul shipments generally use direct calls where offered or connect through Northern European transshipment hubs.
Ireland Port Data Methodology
The page separates first-party indexed coverage from official national statistics and port-specific operating data. Port names and codes are drawn from the supplied Ireland dataset; operational details and sailing times can change and should be confirmed before booking.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party directory containing 107 Ireland ports and terminals in the Nov 2026 snapshot.
- UNECE — international UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference.
- Central Statistics Office Ireland — official national transport, trade and freight statistics where published.
- Dublin Port Company — port-specific cargo, traffic and operational information for Dublin.
- Port of Cork — port-specific commercial, terminal and shipping information for Cork.
Ireland Seaport FAQ
How many seaports does Ireland have?
Ireland has 107 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage and is not presented as a statutory national count.
What is the main port in Ireland?
Dublin is generally the main commercial port in Ireland by the breadth of its ferry, ro-ro, container and general cargo activity. Its listed UN/LOCODE is IEDUB.
What is the port code for Dublin, Ireland?
The Ecer Freight listing for Dublin uses the UN/LOCODE IEDUB. Shipping documents should still be checked against the carrier booking and the exact terminal.
Which Irish port regions are important for freight?
The principal freight clusters are the Dublin and east coast gateway, the Cork and south coast area, and the Shannon Estuary around Limerick, Shannon and Foynes. Rosslare is also important for ferry and ro-ro flows.
Are the Ireland port figures current?
The indexed port coverage is based on the Nov 2026 snapshot. Official statistics use the latest complete reporting year available, with 2025 preferred where a comparable published figure can be verified. Schedules and operating conditions remain subject to confirmation.
Can freight rates be requested for an Ireland shipment?
Yes. FCL and LCL rate searches can be made through the relevant Ecer Freight quotation pages. The final quotation depends on origin, destination, cargo details, equipment, routing and sailing date.
Should a port code or terminal be confirmed before shipment?
Yes. A carrier, forwarder or customs instruction should confirm the exact UN/LOCODE, terminal, cargo acceptance rules, cut-off time and documentation requirements before cargo is dispatched.
Editorial note: Ireland port codes and indexed coverage are maintained from the Ecer Freight Ports Database and reviewed against available official, port-authority and international location-code sources. The page is updated on a quarterly review cycle, while throughput, schedules, terminal restrictions and transit times remain subject to the latest published information and operational confirmation.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Ireland: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact