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Belfast Harbour

Belfast Harbour is Northern Ireland's principal sea gateway and logistics hub, located within the Belfast Harbour Estate. It handles around 24 million tonnes of trade a year, and 1.73 million people pass through it on passenger ferries. In 2025 it received almost 150 cruise calls from 60 ships and 31 cruise lines, carrying 320,000 passengers and crew. The estate is home to more than 700 companies employing 23,000 people, including George Best Belfast City Airport, Harland and Wolff, Spirit AeroSystems, Odyssey, Catalyst Inc, Titanic Quarter and Titanic Belfast. The port is one of only two on the island of Ireland handling the full range of cargo, from freight vehicles to containers, dry bulk, break bulk and liquids, as well as passenger services and cruise calls. Its history dates back to 1613, when a royal charter for the incorporation of Belfast specified the need for a quay at the confluence of the Rivers Lagan and Farset. Victoria Channel was completed in 1849 and Clarendon Dock opened in 1851. During the Second World War it served as a Royal Navy base for Atlantic and Russian convoy escort ships. HMS Caroline, a First World War light cruiser, is permanently berthed in the harbour and opened to the public as a museum in June 2016. The port has two cruise berths: Pollock Dock for smaller ships and Stormont Wharf for larger ones. Ferry connections include Stena Line routes to Cairnryan and Birkenhead. The port is managed by the Belfast Harbour Commissioners as an independent trust port and is patrolled by the Belfast Harbour Police.

Things to do at Belfast Harbour: 1 missions

• Visit the Port of BelfastVisit the Port of Belfast in Belfast City District and recognise the place on the ground.

Near Belfast Harbour

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