Harbour Commissioners

Chamber of Commerce Building

Chamber of Commerce Building, 2003

© Waterford City Library

Chamber of Commerce Building
© Waterford City Library

Chamber of Commerce Building

Chamber of Commerce Building, 2003

© Waterford City Library

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The Harbour Commissioners were appointed by an Act in 1816, following encouragement by the newly established Chamber of Commerce.

The Commissioners had responsibility for the maintenance and improvement of the Port. Shipbuilding was a major business in Waterford City between 1820 and 1882. White's Shipyard and Malcomson's Ironworks Shipyard were the most prominent.

Report of the Ports and Harbour Tribunal 1930

Extract from the Report of the Ports and Harbour Tribunal 1930 - imports and exports

Extract from the Report of the Ports and Harbour Tribunal 1930 - imports and exports

© Anthony Brophy

Extract from the Report of the Ports and Harbour Tribunal 1930 - imports and exports
© Anthony Brophy

Extract from the Report of the Ports and Harbour Tribunal 1930 - imports and exports

Extract from the Report of the Ports and Harbour Tribunal 1930 - imports and exports

© Anthony Brophy

Enlarge image

The Government carried out a review of all ports in Ireland between 1926 and 1929; the resulting report includes a detailed study of the workings of Waterford Harbour and Port. Between 1913 and 1928, the number of vessels using the port had reduced from 1, 752 to 1, 314.

The principal imports in 1929 were coal, maize, artificial manure, flour, cement, sugar and wheat. The exports were timber, oats, bacon, butter and live stock. The report recommended that Waterford together with Dublin, Cork and Limerick be classified as 'Class A' ports. Business in the Port remained buoyant in the early part of the twentieth century and up to start of the Great War. The following fifty years were lean years for the Port.

1946 Harbour Act

Disused Port crane, 2003 In 1946 the Harbour Act was passed; the State became owners of the river bed and fore-shore with the Corporation retaining ownership of the Quays. The harbour was greatly improved in the 1950's. During the forties and fifties, coal, grain and timber were imported by boats.

In the sixties and seventies, cattle boats were regularly seen on the Quays. Bell Lines Ltd. operated a successful container business on the Ferrybank side of the harbour for many years until its demise.