Best Members' Collaboration Awards Entry: Dublin Port Company and others

Award Nomination:

The Dublin SafePort initiative is an innovative, collaborative programme led by Dublin Port Company (DPC) to transform safety culture across a complex, multi-operator port environment. The project was needed because Dublin Port operates through seven independent terminal operators, each with their own systems and practices, creating fragmentation in safety standards, communication, and behaviours. DPC recognised that enforcing compliance alone would not deliver a sustained improvement in safety outcomes. Instead, a shared, partner-led approach was required to embed a consistent, proactive safety culture across the entire port estate.

SafePort was established to move beyond rule enforcement towards a model that supports workers, encourages participation, and builds collective responsibility for safety. Central to this was the creation of strong, trust-based relationships between DPC and the terminal operators. These relationships enabled open dialogue, shared learning, and the development of aligned safety practices covering training, communication, and operations.

The initiative was implemented through a structured and inclusive process. DPC engaged all seven main terminal operators, representing the majority of the port workforce, ensuring that all stakeholders had a voice in shaping the programme. The initiative was further strengthened by the support of key external bodies, including the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), aligning SafePort with regulatory expectations and reinforcing worker participation. Early actions focused on practical, visible improvements that demonstrated the value of collaboration. These included the introduction of consistent speed limits and standardised personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements across the port. These measures delivered immediate safety benefits and built confidence among partners in the collective approach. DPC also engaged expert consultants (jmj.com) to support the development of safety leadership capability and embed behavioural safety principles.

As the initiative matured, SafePort expanded its reach beyond terminal operators, engaging infrastructure providers, transport partners, and industry organisations such as Dublin Airport, Irish Water, the Irish Port Safety Forum, and the UK Chamber of Shipping. Regular safety leadership events and reflective workshops were held to assess progress, identify gaps, and ensure continuous improvement.

Success has been measured through both qualitative and operational indicators. Most significantly, SafePort has unified previously independent operators into a trusted network of safety partners, supported by collaborative working groups and increased engagement from stevedores and state agencies including An Garda Síochána, Revenue, and the HSE. This has led to improved relationships, more consistent procedures, and stronger communication across the port.

Tangible outcomes include standardisation of key safety controls such as PPE and speed management, alongside a measurable increase in safety awareness across daily operations. These improvements have been achieved in a high-intensity environment handling approximately 50 vessel movements and 17,000 vehicle movements each day. The initiative has also enhanced the Port’s reputation, gaining international recognition as a leading example of collaborative safety culture transformation.

Overall, SafePort has successfully shifted the safety paradigm at Dublin Port from compliance-driven to partnership-led, creating a sustainable culture of shared responsibility and continuous improvement. DPC intends to build on this success by continuing to invest in SafePort leadership, resources, and partnerships to ensure ongoing progress and long-term safety performance across the port.

The SafePort initiative has successfully established trusted, enduring safety relationships between Dublin Port’s terminal operators, underpinned by active and highly collaborative working groups. This network has continued to grow, extending beyond core terminal partners to include additional stevedores and key state agencies such as An Garda Síochána, Revenue, and the Health Service Executive. These expanded partnerships have strengthened alignment and reinforced a unified, port-wide commitment to safety.

The collaborative environment fostered through SafePort promotes open communication, shared standards, and collective accountability for safety outcomes. This has enabled the development of a resilient and mature safety culture, one that is increasingly recognised internationally as a leading example of partnership-led safety transformation.

Building on this strong foundation, Dublin Port Company is committed to sustaining momentum through targeted investment in leadership, capability, and resources dedicated to SafePort. This continued support will ensure the initiative remains adaptive and responsive to evolving operational demands and emerging risks.

Through these sustained efforts, SafePort is embedding a cohesive and proactive safety culture across the port estate—one focused on protecting workers and visitors alike. In doing so, it is positioning Dublin Port as a benchmark for collaborative safety excellence within the maritime sector.