The Port of Dover has reported successful results for its busiest summer since 2019, with 860,000 passengers handled so far and an average processing time of less than 40 minutes during peak hours.
Since hool holidays in England and Wales began on July 21, the port has helped a total of 859,239 passengers, 201,275 cars, 4,199 coaches and 96,525 freight vehicles.
The first weekend (July 21-23) saw average border processing times of 40 minutes, with the second (July 28-30) recording an average of 35 minutes and the third (August 4-6) achieving 23 minutes.
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Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister said it had been the busiest series of summer weekends for four years, adding: “Despite huge demand, we have succeeded in getting passengers and vehicles away well within our planned timeframes.”
The port reported that its maximum planned processing time of 2.5 hours was confined to the morning of the busiest day (Saturday, July 29) and did not exceed 90 minutes across the two other peak getaway weekends.
Bannister said this holiday period was considered a “significant test” because it was Dover’s first full summer under post-Brexit border controls and featured traffic volumes that hit pre-pandemic levels.
On the busiest day, the port handled a total of 63,733 passengers, as well as 15,446 cars, a total of 224 coaches and 4,753 freight vehicles.
The port said this summer’s figures confirm its position as the top port in the UK for summer holidays, pointing out that it offers the shortest sea crossing to France and a choice of three operators.
Bannister added: “Alongside our thanks to our operational partners – P&O Ferries, DFDS Ferries and Irish Ferries, Police aux Frontières, National Highways and Kent Police – we wish to reiterate our special thanks to the Dover community for their understanding on the busiest summer weekends since 2019.”