Derry's port area to get smaller - all because of the Craigavon Bridge

Derry's port area looks set to get smaller.

The area currently managed by the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners (LPHC) stretches from Lifford Bridge across the River Foyle to a point between Greencastle and Magilligan on Lough Foyle.

However, a proposal has been put forward to reduce the size of the port area.

And it’s all because of the construction of the Craigavon Bridge in 1933.

Before the construction of the bridge, large boats were able to travel up the River Foyle as far as Strabane.

However, once the Craigavon Bridge was built, these commercial ships were only able to travel as far as the Derry docks.

Despite this, in the intervening 81 years, LPHC has remained responsible for the river area from the Craigavon Bridge to Lifford Bridge.

Now, a proposal for new legislation has been put forward which will limit LPHC’s management responsibility to the area between Craigavon Bridge and a line between Greencastle in Donegal and Magilligan in County Derry.

A document containing the proposal has been put out for public consultation.

Anyone who would like to comment on the proposal has until February 23 next year to put their views forward.

During the 17th and 18th centuries Londonderry Corporation was responsible for the upkeep and development of the local port.

During this time, Derry’s port was one of the busiest in Ireland with a huge trade in Irish linens and provisions to the English and Irish markets.

Thousands of emigrants also left the port on ships bound for America.

The importance of the port can be judged by the fact that in 1767, a total of 67 ships, with a total tonnage of 11,000 tons, belonged to the merchants of Derry.

As a result of this growth, the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners were constituted in 1854 to address the challenges facing a port seeking to maintain and expand its trading connections.

In 1993, in order to take larger vessels, the port moved from the city centre downstream to a deep-water facility at Lisahally.

This then led to the redevelopment of Derry’s former docks area in the city centre, one of the key regeneration projects in Derry in recent years.