Belfast Harbour Commissioners - applications for marine licences
What is happening?
THE MARINE AND COASTAL ACCESS ACT 2009
THE MARINE WORKS (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT)
REGULATIONS 2007 (AS AMENDED)
Notice is hereby given that applications for marine licences have been made by Belfast Harbour Commissioners of the Harbour Office, Corporation Square, Belfast, BT1 3AL, to carry out a regulated activity under the Marine and Coastal Access Act (“the Act”) 2009.
The works are located at D3, within Belfast Harbour Estate, opposite Victoria Terminal 4. The project is for the construction of a new multi-purpose facility for berthing of cruise ships and for lay-by and transient storage of project cargo, break bulk & dry bulk during cruise ship off-season. Development comprises the construction of 340m long solid quay with mooring dolphins, dredging of the berthing pocket to -9.8mCD & infilling behind the new quay wall using imported clean fill materials, construction of a 25m wide piled relieving slab along the quay length, with heavy duty paving surfacing on the quay/slab hinterland, access road, security gates, access barrier & kiosk at Airport Road West, modular terminal building, shore side facilities, lighting, fencing and landscaping. Disposal at sea is at the North Channel Disposal Ground.
This project is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment, and an Environmental Statement has been prepared.
The project involves three separate marine licence applications pursuant to Part 4 of the Act;
- ML2025053: Marine Construction Licence for the construction of the marine aspects of the project located
- at D3, within Belfast Harbour Estate, opposite Victoria Terminal 4.
- ML2025054: Marine Capital Dredge Licence for the proposed dredging of the seabed at D3, centered on Irish National Grid 337267 E, 378353 N
- ML2025055: Marine Capital Dredge Sea Disposal Licence for the disposal of dredged material at the North Channel Disposal Ground, located within a 0.2 nautical mile radius of 54° 45.3’N 05° 29.6’W
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is the Marine Licensing authority for Northern Ireland inshore region as set out at section 113(6) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. DAERA is also the appropriate authority under the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007 as amended (the EIA Regulations). In determining the applications, DAERA as appropriate authority will make the EIA consent decision for the project. DAERA will also make a decision whether to grant regulatory approval (for a marine licence) under Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
A copy of each licence application and associated documents relating to the applications including: shadow Habitat Regulations Assessment, Environmental Statement and any further information provided by the applicant can be viewed on the DAERA webpage at
Alternatively, the documents can be viewed at the address below from 22nd December during standard business hours 9am to 5pm at the Departments premises below: -
Marine Licensing Branch
DAERA Marine and Fisheries Division
Ground Floor, Clare House
303 Airport Road West, Belfast, BT3 9ED
To arrange an appointment to view the documents please contact +44 (0) 28 90 569247 or
MarineLicensingTeam@daera-ni.gov.uk
Any person wishing to make representations regarding the application and the Environmental Statement may do so. Such representations must be made in writing by 2nd February 2026 (42 days after the date the notice was first published). Representations must be sent to the address above or by email to:
MarineLicensingTeam@daera-ni.gov.uk
Representations received from members of the public will be dealt with in accordance with Schedule 5 of the EIA Regulations. Please note that comments received will be sent to the applicant and may be supplied to any third party, on request.
Additionally, the application and the Environmental Statement can also be viewed at:
Belfast Harbour Commissioners
Harbour Office
Corporation Square, Belfast, BT1 3AL
Please make an appointment by telephoning (028) 90 554422 or emailing
In addition, a hard copy of the application and associated documents are available on written request through DAERA Marine Licensing Branch, provided by the applicant Belfast Harbour Commissioners, at a cost of £100.
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