Thousands of visitors set to travel to the Tall Ships Festival from across Northern Ireland are being urged to help the environment and use public transport.

With the massive event running from August 13–16 it will be one of the biggest spectacles ever witnessed in the province, with several hundred thousand people expected to attend the event over four days.

The Tall Ships will be berthed along Queen’s Quay, Abercorn Basin, Donegall Quay and Albert Quay.

An increase in the volume of traffic on all routes in and around the River Lagan and Belfast Port is expected.

To ease congestion a number of main car parks, and park and ride services to view the Tall Ships are also being opened.

Lord Mayor of Belfast Naomi Long said the council is working with partner agencies to ensure that the festival would not cause unnecessary disruption to motorists.

“We are working closely with the DRD, Translink, PSNI and the Harbour Police to make sure that the event runs smoothly and will be an enjoyable experience for everybody while causing minimal disruption to motorists in the area,” she said.

“If you are planning to attend the festival, make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to arrive and depart the venue.

“If you are not visiting the event, you may want to avoid the area on the days in question and consider taking an alternative route.”

Councillor Long said the ‘park and ride’ shuttle buses would be available to take visitors to and from the car parks every ten minutes.

The PSNI have said they will be enforcing traffic and parking restrictions. Chief Inspector Andy Freeburn said his priority was for everybody to stay safe.

“It is absolutely great that Belfast has been chosen to host this fantastic family event and we want everybody to come and enjoy it to the full.

But added: “Any vehicles found to be illegally parked or causing an obstruction to businesses, emergency vehicles or commuter traffic will be removed at considerable expense to the owner.”

Road closures and car parking

Motorists have been warned to expect road closures around the Tall Ships docking areas when the festival begins next week.

This includes Corporation Street/Garmoyle Street, Queen’s Quay, Queen’s Road, the M3 slip road to the Odyssey, Sydenham Road and Donegall Quay.

The closures will be in place on Thursday, August 13 and Friday, August 14 from 10am to around 11pm, on Saturday from 9am to approximately 11pm and on Sunday from 9am to approximately 5pm.

The inner lane of Queen Elizabeth Bridge, as far back as Donegall Quay, will also be closed and coned off throughout the event, from early Thursday morning to early Monday morning.

A Translink park and ride service will be in place to accommodate in excess of 4,000 cars on each day of the event.

There will be three main park and ride sites, located at Giant’s Park/Duncrue, Boucher Playing Fields, and D3/Harbour Estate.

Disabled parking is available at the Odyssey main car park — blue badge holders will be able to pre-book spaces through the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau.

A pre-bookable coach parking system will be in operation for the event via the Belfast Welcome Centre.

Coaches will park on the Queen’s Road.

A free event shuttle route will operate every 10 minutes from Queen’s Quay (Odyssey) – Oxford Street – Lanyon Place – Custom House Square – Pollock Dock – Albert Quay – Clarendon Dock – Queen’s Quay.

For information on public transport and other event information, go to www.gotobelfast.com.

For traffic arrangements, call the DRD traffic line on 0845 7123321 or check their website www.trafficwatchni.com/tallships.

The Belfast Welcome Centre can be contacted on 02890 246609.