Latest news with #PortofDover
BBC News
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Roads near Port of Dover to close for new border changes
Some roads around the Port of Dover will be closed from Monday so works can be carried out ahead of the new entry/exit system (EES) being installed at the port says that the work to be carried out by National Highways will be carried out at the Union Street junction, close to the port's first phase will begin on 9 June and run until Friday 11 July, which will mean drivers can only access Union Street from the A20. A diversion route will be put in place via Wellesley Road for anyone who wants to return to the A20. A second phase will then begin on 14 July for two-and-a-half months until the end of this phase, there will be a full closure of Union Street and the port says there will be a signed diversion via Wellesley Road for the full works will take place throughout regatta weekend on 12 and 13 July, the port completed, there will be two new lanes from Union Street to turn right onto the A20 and a new left-turn option. The BBC understands the new system will begin at the Port of Dover from 1 will replace current passport stamping, requiring visitors from outside the European Union to register fingerprints, a photo and passport details to enter the system was due to begin in November 2024 but was delayed as the technology was not ready in time.
The Guardian
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Dover 24/7: Britain's Busiest Port review – you won't believe the fact about the bananas!
This documentary is a meat-and-two-veg slice of British television, comfortable and familiar and sturdy. It's the sort of TV that doesn't ask much of you, only that you raise an eyebrow, nod along, and say yes, that is an interesting fact about bananas, I'd never thought about that before. The statistics are plentiful and free-flowing, so much so that without them being breathlessly relayed every few seconds, you suspect it could have been a 20-minute show. Even so: 3m bananas! Which must be stored at exactly 14C (57F), so they don't ripen too soon! Dover is the UK's biggest ferry port. According to the film-makers, 10 million passengers pass through it every year, as does a third of Britain's trade with the EU. During the summer, upwards of 10,000 freight vehicles and 15,000 passenger vehicles make use of it daily. It's a busy place, with multiple purposes, and many different teams, attempting to form a gigantic sort of interlocking puzzle. The show borrows from various sections of the jobs-based reality-documentary toolbox. As a result, it feels like a bit of a hybrid of many other programmes. It's Border Force meets Traffic Cops meets Inside the Factory, with a tiny splash of late-90s series Airline, though sadly it is nowhere near as camp as that minor classic. It begins with the Border Force element. The Port of Dover has its own police force, of 'nearly 40' officers, in charge of the safety and security of passengers. We see two of them patrolling the white cliffs, to check, excitingly, whether anyone is carrying out 'hostile reconnaissance'. They might be a famous tourist attraction and a renowned beauty spot, but the cliffs also offer a view of the entire port, perfect for bad actors to do some spying. It does make you wonder if making television viewers aware of this is in the best interests of national security. But there are no spies today, merely some evidence of alcohol consumption. They stop a man driving to Europe from Birmingham, because he's got eight people in the car, three of whom are children not wearing seatbelts, and when they check his documents, that turns out to be the least of his worries. Then the radios crackle with a message that a freight driver is claiming to have a gun and is 'irate', and everyone runs. It looks like the camera crew has struck gold. This is properly exciting. But it turns out to be a misunderstanding involving flashcards, and the driver gets escorted away for the day, with a slap on the wrist. Minor dramas bubble up to the surface, then pop, and dissipate gently. On a national security level, it's reassuring that there is so little threat here, even though it does make for steady television. Michelle, the duty operations officer, has got a busy day ahead: she needs to figure out how to get a convoy of six coaches on board the ferry to Dunkirk, without blocking the lanes. She manages to pull it off without a hitch. We get to meet the ferry's head chef, Paolo, who caters to the coach passengers, and has a run on fish and chips. I am no logistics mastermind, but if you asked me what six coach-loads of passengers of a certain age, travelling to Dunkirk, might want to eat, fish and chips wouldn't be an outside bet. I am also surprised to learn that ferries have head chefs, after recently travelling on a ferry myself – not this company, I should add – and eating what can only be described as the most beige meal that has ever been plated up, and paying £25 for the privilege. We learn that to compensate the residents of Dover for the fact that 3.8m vehicles pass through the town every year, and traffic can occasionally get a bit much, the Port of Dover throws an annual regatta for locals, to give back to the community. Unfortunately, on the day, it is very windy, but it goes quite well. That's all there is to it. Running a busy port sounds like a difficult task, but everyone here seems pretty competent, and on the basis of this documentary, it all looks as if it's going well. Again, reassuring, in terms of that safe pair of hands, if not the most lively television you'll ever see. Apart from the bananas, that is. They arrive on a boat so big that it needs tiny boats to help it dock. It requires remote-controlled cranes to offload the endless crates of bananas. One of the cranes gets stuck. The weather starts to turn. The cargo ship must leave quickly, before the tide goes out. The music is dramatic, the stakes are high. I'll leave you to guess how it all turns out. Dover 24/7: Britain's Busiest Port is on Channel 4.
The Independent
31-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
British travellers to face fingerprint scans on every trip to EU
British citizens will be required to have their fingerprints scanned whenever they go to the European Union due to delays in the development of digital biometrics software. Every UK passenger entering the Schengen area will need to exit their car to be photographed and fingerprinted individually. A spokesperson for the Port of Dover, which facilitates transit and trade with countries like France and the Netherlands, told The Independent the plans will be rolled out in the autumn. This is because a new biometric entry-check system for non-EU citizens was expected to be implemented last year, but this has been postponed. The Independent initially reported on the delay to the new system at the end of 2024, with suggestions that the demand for fingerprints may quietly be dropped. Doug Bannister, the port's chief executive, told The Guardian it will be 'business as usual' this summer but said 'a big change' in travel will be phased in from November. An individual's fingerprint or a picture of their face will be checked alongside their passport number on every trip. The technology is being utilised to eliminate "wet stamping" of passports and enable an automated recording of the duration of visitors' stays in mainland Europe. In time, an app installed on UK Border Force tablets is intended to be passed into the car to verify each person's fingerprints. However, Mr Bannister said the app, which has been developed by the EU's border agency Frontex, 'won't be ready any time before November, but hopefully it could come swiftly after that'. Frontex said it was up to each member state to implement its use. Mr Bannister admitted 'second, third, fourth time travellers still need to have a biometric captured at the border'. This means that passengers will still be required to step out of their vehicles every time until the app is ready. There will be significant infrastructure improvements in Kent in an effort to reduce disruptions to cross-border transport. To accommodate passengers getting off cars and buses, the Port of Dover is reclaiming 13 hectares of land. In a solution supported by the UK and French governments, the port said it will create a virtual system around 1.5 miles across the port's surrounding area for checks. Mr Bannister is certain that the upcoming inspections at the port, which handles up to 10,000 trucks and 15,000 passenger cars every day during the summer, will require only an extra six minutes to each trip.
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Cruise ships will sail from the Port of Dover this summer – with sailings to Norway, Malta, Portugal and more
Carnival Miracle is among cruise ships that have made inaugural calls in Kent this month as the Port of Dover prepares for its high season. Southampton may be the main UK port for cruises but Dover will have hosted four inaugural calls for ships during May and has five regular brands departing from its terminal, providing another departure option for UK passengers. Windstar's Star Pride and Ponant's Le Laperouse and Le Bellot ships stopped at the port for the first time this month, meaning more than 3,000 new guests have travelled into the region in May. The Port of Dover expanded its mooring facilities earlier this year to make room for larger ships and can now host three vessels at once. Peter Wright, head of cruise at the Port of Dover, said: 'We are thrilled to launch our 2025 season with Carnival and their guests, and to see another member of their fleet begin her set of nine turnaround calls this year. 'We also had the pleasure of welcoming both Star Pride and Le Laperouse for their debut calls. 'It was wonderful seeing these two unique ships moored alongside each other in front of the White Cliffs and making use of our wide-ranging facilities catering for different ship sizes and styles.' The Windstar and Ponant ships were only in port for a visit during longer sailings but there are a range of cruise brands departing from Dover in the coming months. Carnival Miracle The 2,670-capacity Carnival Miracle made its debut in Dover this month. The vessel is hosting British Isles sailings from the port after just coming out of drydock following a refresh that includes a new Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge and Cloud 9 Spa. Passengers can also enjoy the ship's refreshed mini-golf course and eat at a new chef's table experience. Carnival Miracle will homeport in Dover until early August for a series of nine and 12-day itineraries across the British Isles, Scandinavia, the Baltics and northern Europe. Prices start from £747 per person for a nine-day Spain, Portugal and France cruise that departs on 30 May. Saga Cruises Over-50s brand Saga Cruises has regular departures from Dover aboard both Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure. Itineraries include sailings around Britain and Norway, including a seven-night Norwegian fjords summertime cruise departing on 15 August from £2,822 per person. Fred Olsen's 1,360-capacity Borealis is departing from Dover throughout the summer. Passengers can enjoy sailings to the Norwegian fjords, Iceland and the Azores region in Portugal Other highlights include its 11-night Malta and Scenic Sights of Croatia sailing, departing on 5 June from £1,299 per person. Seabourn Sojourn Luxury cruise brand Seabourn has six sailings from Dover until early August aboard its Sojourn ship, which caters for 458 passengers. Itineraries include sailings to Iceland and Norway as well as a seven-day Castles, Lochs and Scottish Highlands cruise departing on 2 August from £4,164 per person. Holland America Nieuw Statendam Holland America's Nieuw Statendam ship has several sailings from Dover until September. It marks Holland America Line's first UK season in 10 years, with the 2,666-guest ship.
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Government considers sale of Brexit border checkpoint in Kent
The UK government is reportedly considering selling a post-Brexit border check facility in Kent that could fall out of use as a result of this week's trade pact with the EU. The site, based in Sevington, Ashford, was erected in 2021 with capacity for 1,300 lorries that were expected to face extra checks on plants and animal goods, including dairy and meat, entering and leaving Britain after Brexit. However, the deal between the UK and EU struck earlier this week is due to remove the need for routine health and veterinary certification on the import and export of farm products ranging from fresh meat and dairy products to vegetables, timber, wool and leather. The government is now on the hunt for a company willing to buy or repurpose the Sevington border control point. Ministers are said to have approached Eurotunnel directly, according to the Financial Times. The Port of Dover could also be in the running, having been in discussions with the government for years about the site. The Port of Dover chief executive, Doug Bannister, welcomed the UK government's deal with the EU. 'Clearly there is a lot of detail to work through on how that's to be implemented and we're keen to continue our discussions with government for what this means for the BCP [border control post] at Sevington,' he said. The new UK-EU deal could end up making 41 BCPs, built by British port operators in the wake of Brexit, redundant. The Guardian revealed on Wednesday that a separate £25m post-Brexit BCP in Portsmouth may have to be demolished as a result of the government's deal with the EU. The hi-tech facility at the UK's second busiest cross-Channel terminal was one of more than 100 BCPs around the country built to government specifications to handle post-Brexit checks on imports subject to sanitary and phytosanitary checks. Boasting 14 lorry bays, Portsmouth's 8,000 sq metre (86,000 sq ft) border site was designed to allow inspection of low- and high-risk goods in air-lock quarantine zones to prevent cross-contamination. However, it has been severely underused since it began operating in April last year, after the previous Conservative government's changes to the post-Brexit import regime, which significantly reduced the number of tests required. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion An average of three checks have been carried out each day at Portsmouth's BCP in the 12 months since it began operating, compared with the 80 a day for which it was built. It is understood that a decision on whether to close BCPs will depend on the final details of the UK-EU deal. Some checks, including on live animals, are expected to continue. A government spokesperson said: 'This government committed in its manifesto to negotiate an agreement to prevent unnecessary border checks, remove red tape for businesses and help tackle the cost of food, which is what we have delivered on.' Eurotunnel declined to comment.
