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(Port Operations Supervisor, Port Terminal Supervisor, Port Operations Coordinator, Terminal Supervisor)
Transport & Logistics
Salary
€32,000 - €65,000/yr
Level
Professional
Outlook
Stable
Sector
Transport & Logistics
As a Port Coordinator you manage the day-to-day operations of a port terminal, overseeing vessel scheduling, cargo handling, and the use of port facilities in accordance with Irish and EU maritime regulations. You liaise closely with shipping companies, stevedores, customs officials, and harbour police to ensure that berths are assigned efficiently and that cargo is loaded, unloaded, and stored safely. You monitor compliance with port regulations, record revenue-related activities, and compile ship and cargo statistics for submission to management and the relevant authorities. Your role also involves directing cleaning and policing activities across port land, water areas, and buildings, while advising port authorities on tariff rates and attracting new shipping business. You typically work from a port operations centre and are expected to respond quickly to operational disruptions such as vessel delays, weather events, or cargo incidents.
Listen: a day as a Port Coordinator
Your alarm goes off at 5:45 a.m. The early start is non-negotiable. A ro-ro ferry from Cherbourg is due to berth at 07:15, and you need to be at the terminal office before it arrives. You drive into the port, sign in, pull up the vessel traffic management system on your desktop, and run through the overnight log left by the night coordinator. There are two minor issues flagged: a refrigerated container unit has been drawing power from the wrong outlet, and a customs hold has been placed on a pallet of goods from a previous vessel. By 07:00 you are on the quayside in your high-vis vest and hard hat, radio in hand, watching the pilot guide the ferry into its assigned berth. You confirm the berth allocation with the harbour master's office, then brief the stevedoring team leader on the unloading sequence. The stevedores operate the forklifts and ramps; your job is coordination, not physical handling, but you need to know exactly what is happening at all times.
A Higher Certificate (NFQ Level 6) or Ordinary Bachelor's degree (NFQ Level 7) in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Maritime Studies, or Business is the typical starting point for this role in Ireland. Useful Leaving Certificate subjects include Business, Geography, Mathematics, and Applied Mathematics, as these underpin logistical planning and quantitative analysis. Institutions such as TU Dublin, ATU, SETU Waterford, and Cork College of FET offer relevant programmes in freight transport, logistics, and port operations. A PLC course (QQI Level 5 or 6) in Logistics and Distribution can also provide an entry route for candidates who then gain experience on the ground. No statutory professional registration body governs port coordination in Ireland, but membership of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is widely recognised and valued by employers. Relevant short courses in dangerous goods (IMDG), customs procedures, and health and safety are often required or strongly encouraged.
Many Port Coordinators begin in junior administrative or logistics roles within a port authority or shipping company, building operational knowledge before taking on a coordination function. With experience at ports such as Dublin Port, Cork Port, or Rosslare Europort, you can progress to roles such as Port Operations Supervisor or Terminal Supervisor, taking on greater responsibility for shift management and compliance. Further advancement leads to Port Operations Manager or Terminal Manager positions, where you oversee entire operational divisions and contribute to strategic planning. Senior professionals may move into port authority leadership, consultancy, or regional logistics management, often supported by a Level 8 or Level 9 qualification and CILT membership.
AI-driven vessel traffic management systems and predictive scheduling tools are increasingly being introduced at major Irish ports, automating routine berth allocation and cargo tracking tasks that coordinators previously handled manually. This allows Port Coordinators to focus more on exception management, stakeholder relations, and strategic decision-making rather than data entry. AI-powered analytics can also improve tariff modelling and cargo statistics reporting, reducing administrative burden. However, the on-the-ground judgement, regulatory oversight, and interpersonal coordination that the role demands means human expertise remains central and is unlikely to be replaced in the near term.
→ Port Coordinator (Current role)
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Organisations in Ireland that employ people in this occupation.
Dublin Port, Dublin 1
Coordinating vessel scheduling, berth allocation, and cargo operations daily.
Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork
Managing terminal operations, cargo handling, and shipping company liaison.
Foynes, Co. Limerick
Overseeing bulk cargo coordination and vessel scheduling on the Shannon estuary.
Drogheda, Co. Louth
Coordinating port facilities, cargo logistics, and regulatory compliance operations.
Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford
Managing Ro-Ro and ferry terminal scheduling, customs liaison, and berth allocation.
Dublin Port, Dublin 1
Coordinating ferry cargo operations, port logistics, and vessel turnaround schedules.
Dublin Port and Rosslare, Co. Wexford
Supporting vessel arrivals, passenger logistics, and freight terminal coordination.
Dublin Port, Dublin 1
Coordinating freight shipping operations and cargo documentation at Irish terminals.
Dublin Port and Warrenpoint (NI operations)
Managing Ro-Ro freight vessel scheduling and port coordination activities.
Dublin Port, Dublin 1
Handling cargo logistics coordination, customs clearance, and stevedore liaison.
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