Belfast Harbour will invest £1.3 billion over the next 25 years to expand its facilities and prepare for higher trade volumes.

The plan includes reclaiming land in Belfast Lough for a new freight terminal, increasing container capacity, and building infrastructure to support offshore wind projects. Upgrades to cruise and ferry terminals are also planned.

The port currently handles 24 million tonnes of cargo annually. Projections show volumes could reach between 30 million and 50 million tonnes by 2050.

About 3,500 new homes are planned across the harbour estate, including sites in Titanic Quarter and Sailortown. A marina upgrade next to the Odyssey complex will raise capacity from 65 vessels to 175.

A maritime skills academy forms part of the proposals. The first phase, valued at around £313 million, is already funded.

Further phases require Stormont to pass legislation allowing the harbour to borrow on financial markets. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins expressed support for the plan.

Ulster University research shows the harbour currently supports £9 billion in annual trade activity and 150,000 jobs. The investment could raise that contribution to £12 billion and create 5,500 construction jobs.