Port of Dover preparing for ‘exceptionally busy’ summer

16th Jul 2024

The Port of Dover has announced that due to new EU border checks, the Paris Olympics, and seasonal travellers - drivers should expect an ‘exceptionally busy’ summer with procesing times expected to take up to two hours.

Drivers who have not pre-booked have been advised to not arrive at the port and holidaymakers should not to turn up more than two hours before their booked ferry crossing.

Port officials have also stated that holidaymakers should use the main routes to the ferry terminal and not look to make any shortcuts and ensure that they have all the relevant travel documents to hand when they arrive at the terminal.

The Port also made it clear that drivers should ensure that they have ‘sufficient food, snacks and entertainment’ to provide a comfortable journey.

Current modelling indicates that processing times inside the port will be up to two hours during the peak hours of 6am to 1pm on Fridays, through to Sundays every weekend of the summer holidays, due to the ‘extreme popularity’ of these days.

Doug Bannister, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said: “Summer Getaways are always exceptionally busy periods for airports and ports alike as families set off on their holidays. Much like at airports, where processing time can be around two hours, the Port of Dover will see processing times that mirror this as we are the popular port of choice, with a quick route to the continent.

“As well as having even more tourist traffic coming our way this year, we have the added challenge of having to implement our infrastructure works required by France and the EU to support the EU’s new Entry / Exit system due to go live in October.

“On arrival at the port this summer, our customers will see the contractors we have on-site, working around an already busy 24/7 operation to construct these facilities. The effect of these works that are required to house the process means that our Buffer Zone, where traffic waits for French border clearance, will have a reduced capacity.

“In addition to these vital works, we must also factor in an anticipated increase in traveller numbers of 30%, who will be making their way to Paris for the Olympic Games, starting later this month.

“We are advising those who will be using the Port of Dover this summer that it will be exceptionally busy and therefore it is vital that they do not arrive any earlier than the two hours stated – just as if you were planning on flying from a UK airport. However, in the case of any issues with the sailing they are booked on, they will simply be placed on the next available sailing at no extra cost as sailings will be continuous throughout the day.”

The Port of Dover has also announced its ‘Summer Getaway’ plan.

By working with their partners, they are aiming to reduce the traffic for their demanding seasonal period.

The operational plan includes working closely with coach customers and ferry operators to spread travel demand during peak times, as well as introducing a new, freight permit system in Brock and on the surrounding Kent roads.

There has also been a new border control infrastructure constructed at the French border for tourist traffic to ease demand once travellers arrive in continental Europe.

The Port has also invested in new AI technology that ‘can predict future traffic in 15-minute intervals, two weeks in advance’.

They have revealed that the new app has been operating at around 95% accuracy.

Toby Mills, CEO of Entopy said: “Our AI-enabled Digital Twin platform integrates multiple, highly focused AI models predicting traffic at different parts of the strategic road network as well as more random events such as incidents and road works in real-time, to deliver dynamic predictive intelligence regarding future traffic flows, helping the Port of Dover and their partners to make informed decisions regarding their traffic management”.