Port of Dover boss sounds warning of ‘severe congestion’ due to EES this summer

The government is being urged by the port of Dover to negotiate with the EU to defer full implementation of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) border controls.

Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister warned of the potential for another “critical incident” such as one declared during the May half-term holiday with queues of up to 4.5 hours after only a few hours of EES processing - with much greater traffic volumes anticipated during the summer peak.  

Bannister, writing to Business and Trade Committee chair Liam Byrne MP, said: “Without greater flexibility in how EES is operated during periods of exceptional demand, we will face repeated episodes of severe congestion throughout the summer holiday period.

“The port’s highly accurate traffic modelling is showing that tourists heading for France could be facing what would be a worse experience ahead of border controls, with queuing cars spilling out of the port onto the public highway for miles.

“This simply cannot be allowed to happen as both Dover and Folkestone will be severely affected.”

The port’s £40 million post-Brexit infrastructure system has encountered operational difficulties as France and the UK begin to implement the EES through the facilities at Dover. 

Bannister warned that there is still no workable solution agreed "and time is rapidly running out."

In response, Byrne said: “The Port of Dover has sounded the alarm. 

“Without an agreement with France to pause the new EU border tech this summer, Britain risks border chaos again. 

“Ministers must urgently secure that agreement now. Once queues stretch for miles through Kent, it will be too late.”

Meanwhile, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK – the body representing professionals across logistics, supply chain and transport - warned that EES is likely to place additional pressure on already stretched travel operations and may lead to further disruption for passengers. 

“Some of this is already evident, with long queues at both arrivals and departures - with at times airlines leaving passengers behind.”