The recent closure of Holyhead Port—a vital trade route between Ireland and the UK—has once again laid bare the vulnerabilities in global supply chains. Caused by Storm Darragh, the closure disrupted critical ferry services, delaying goods and impacting over 150,000 passengers. This event demonstrates a clear lesson for businesses: when disruption happens, it’s already too late to react effectively.
Supply Chain Impact on Ireland
Holyhead Port handles significant volumes of trade and passenger movement. Its sudden closure has led to:
- Severe Delivery Delays:
An Post faced a backlog of 500,000 parcels, forcing rerouting via Rosslare Europort and other alternatives. Despite efforts, uncertainties remain for pre-Christmas deliveries.
Source: Irish Times - Travel Chaos:
Ferry suspensions left travelers scrambling for flights, pushing prices over €600, highlighting the interconnected nature of transport and logistics networks.
Source: The Sun
Why Resilience Must Be Built Before Disruptions Occur
Disruptions—whether caused by weather, geopolitical events, or infrastructure failures—are inevitable. What determines a business’s survival is its preparedness. By the time a disruption strikes, the window for reaction is often too small to avoid losses.
- Proactive Risk Assessments:
Conducting vulnerability checks to identify single points of failure, seasonal sensitivities, and key dependencies allows businesses to pinpoint weak links in their supply chains. - Resilient Supply Chain Plans:
Pre-developed contingency plans—such as alternative logistics routes, diversified suppliers, and inventory buffers—ensure organizations can pivot quickly without major disruptions. - Advanced Tools for Visibility:
Technologies like real-time tracking and predictive analytics help companies anticipate risks and take proactive steps before disruptions occur.
A Framework for Resilience
For supply chain leaders, building resilience starts with three critical steps:
- Assess Risks: Understand vulnerabilities through risk mapping—evaluating key nodes, suppliers, and transportation hubs.
- Plan for Alternatives: Develop diversified supply chain routes, backup suppliers, and strategies for quick response.
- Simulate and Test: Regularly stress-test plans through “what-if” scenarios to ensure preparedness when disruptions arise.
What can we learn from this?
While the run up to christmas is about the worst time this could happen, the closure of Holyhead Port is a reminder that disruptions happen when least expected. Companies that fail to assess risks and develop plans beforehand risk operational chaos and financial loss. Building resilient supply chains is no longer optional—it’s essential for survival in an uncertain world.
If you want to know how to assess your resilience, the SCOR metrics describe exactly how to assess this, feel free to ask any questions you have, we’re glad to help
