Shannon Foynes Port and Cleveland Port authorities sign agreement to unlock transatlantic trade potential
Strategic MOU aims to strengthen trade between Great Lakes region and to Europe
Move welcomed by Minster for Transport Darragh O’Brien, T.D.
Sunday, 22 June 2025: Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC), Ireland’s second largest port operator, and the premier port of the Great Lakes, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (CCCPA), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen trade ties and opportunities between the two.
Built on the strong historical ties between the West of Ireland and Great Lakes region, the commitment will see the port authorities jointly explore activities that will give rise to shared business growth for each and their respective regions.
The move has been welcomed by Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, T.D. “This is a strategic and mutually beneficial transatlantic opportunity between Shannon Foynes Port Company and the Port of Cleveland, particularly in the context of green energy, supply chain diversification and maritime trade connectivity,” he said.
“A key target of this MOU will be to shorten timelines on transit solutions for industry trading between the US and Ireland and also the substantial carbon savings on shipping services over existing traditional transport routes. The US is Ireland’s largest trading partner and this commitment between the port authorities is a positive declaration of intent on both sides, which will be good for investment, jobs and consumers in both regions.”
Located on the Shannon Estuary, one of Europe’s deepest natural harbours and adjacent to the world’s busiest shipping lanes, SFPC is strategically positioned as a key cost effective and efficient European gateway for transatlantic trade. Similarly, the Port of Cleveland is strategically located to provide direct access to the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes, a $6 trillion regional economy that would rank as the third largest in the world if it were a standalone country.
Both ports offer cost-effective, multimodal access to major commercial and industrial markets, providing a unique value proposition to companies seeking faster, greener and more reliable alternatives to traditional coastal shipping routes.
The move is very much also in keeping with supporting US-Irish trade relations as it seeks to promote international trade between the two, thereby enhancing the utilisation of both waterways.
SFPC CEO Patrick Keating said, “This MOU reflects the ambition of Shannon Foynes Port. While we provide critical access for trade to and from Ireland, we are also a key gateway into and out of Europe for transatlantic trade. That is what essentially underpins this agreement with the CCCPA as we will together seek to advance the enormous, each-way trade opportunity from this global trade crossroad. We look forward to working with CCCPA, which has similar ambition and values to us, to explore the full breadth of these opportunities for the greater good of our respective organisations and communities we serve.”
CCCPA Interim President & CEO David Gutheil said, “This agreement builds on the deep and historic ties between the Great Lakes region and Ireland. Ireland and the US are excellent trade partners as our economies are closely intertwined, we share a common language, and we already have very significant trade volumes. What makes this partnership especially powerful is the unique positioning of our two ports. Together we provide access to two huge international markets that present enormous opportunity for business development. In signing this MOU, we want to explore every opportunity to strengthen that connection and drive business development on both sides of the Atlantic. We’re genuinely excited about what’s ahead and confident in the mutual benefits this collaboration can deliver.”
Shannon Foynes Port Company is Ireland’s largest bulk port operator and a designated Tier 1 Port of National Significance. Strategically located on the Shannon Estuary, SFPC is poised to serve as a key hub for offshore wind deployment along the Atlantic seaboard.