Fantasy for many, but the accepted vision for an increasing number of spatial planners, who have the next 20 to 40 years in mind.

Just such a vision was announced in late 2004 by the Irish Academy of Engineering in its report titled "A vision of Transport in Ireland in 2050". The report was written with the long-term future in mind, on the basis that, even though the future might not turn out to be precisely as anyone currently predicts, now is the time to start planning with the big infrastructural projects in mind. Time to start making the future dreams a reality.

The report singled out the Shannon Estuary for particular attention. Stating that it is destined to become one of the few global 'super-ports' because of its potential to service the very biggest mega-container ships in the world, it has been afforded a 'leading role' in the global logistics stakes . . . particularly for Northern Europe.

These days, Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) is the state commercial port company with overall responsibility for the 500 square mile estuary . . . which also happens to play a pivotal role in shaping the economy of the Mid West's future.

Handling no less than 11.4 million tonnes in 2005, the port accounts for the biggest share of the nation's bulk cargo shipments, and the estuary is second only to Dublin in absolute terms of tonnage throughput.

The company has just announced a major review of its existing asset base, which is garnering attention from several circles up and down the corridors of government.

"There are six port installations around the estuary within our jurisdiction", said Brian Byrne, chief executive of SFPC. "We have, however, inherited a legacy of underinvestment by the State in its ports over many, many decades".

In line with government policy, the company accepts that the exchequer should not be expected to automatically bankroll new infrastructural development. In pursuit of its need to re-develop quickly in response to anticipated demand levels over the coming decades, it is using its commercial mandate to leverage the maximum potential from what it already has.

"We reckon we'll need to be writing cheques for over 100 million before we're through, " Byrne freely admitted. "But this review will facilitate major investment in the core business of the Estuary, and increase its port capacity, storage and overall throughput".

Part of the review will entail a "root and branch rethink" of SFPC's port facilities at Limerick, where some 550,000 tonnes of material are now discharged each year - only yards away from Limerick's city centre. Many of the company's landbanks in Limerick are believed to be under-utilised, but hugely valuable because of the city centre location of the existing docks. The company says it will strive to get the balance right between, on the one hand, a property market which is believed by some to be close to its peak, and at the same time, seizing the opportunity to provide world class facilities for port users elsewhere on the Shannon estuary with "efficiency levels and absolute scale to match the best anywhere in the world".

These are certainly challenging times for port development, but Byrne insists that the company is "cognisant not only of its responsibility to deliver huge capacity for the future - but also the legacy which we will leave on Limerick's cityscape for many years to come".

It is clear from this statement that Brian Byrne finds this challenge exciting.

The growth in the Irish economy . . . and particularly the forecasted growth in the Mid West region over the coming decade . . . clearly points to the urgent need to provide significantly enhanced port facilities to cater for heavier traffic, and bigger vessels. To remain competitive both nationally and internationally, Shannon Foynes Port Company promises to "aggressively eliminate existing bottlenecks and inefficiencies, such as the need for extensive maintenance dredging and other costly traffic management measures".

The port's plans are ambitious, but SFPC believes that it will address the pressing needs of a bright future . . . and accepts that this must be achieved without relying on state support for funding in the traditional manner.

The company is also is well advanced in its pursuit of a significant container transhipment project for the lower estuary. Given its geolocation, deep berths, sheltered anchorages, and the limited steaming deviation from international shipping lanes, the sites in mind have already generated significant interest from the international terminal operator markets. Shannon Foynes has access to significant landbanks in state ownership, which will be an important card to play in the stakes for winning additional business.