BELFAST port is now handling over 25 per cent of Ireland's total seaborne trade, figures issued yesterday show.

Belfast's trade increased by 27 per cent in 1996, achieving another record high for Irish ports.

It is now Ireland's largest ferry port, handling over 1.6 million passengers, 300,000 freight vehicles and 400,000 passenger cars annually.

Ship movements are now approaching 20,000 a year at the port.