Holidaymakers and freight drivers heading to the Port of Dover are experiencing frustration as long queues are causing significant delays in their journeys. French border guards are taking up to 90 minutes to process car passengers and approximately two hours for those in lorries, according to the port authorities in Kent.
In a message to waiting passengers, the port stated, “Today is already proving a popular travel day at Dover, and the port is busy processing strong volumes of tourist traffic. Teams from the port, Police aux Frontieres, and our ferry operators are working to get you through as swiftly as possible.”
The delays at the Port of Dover have been partially attributed to the aftermath of Brexit, with French border officials conducting additional checks and stamping UK passports before passengers can board the ferries. The extra measures have added to the processing time and created congestion at the port.
Earlier this year during the Easter holiday period, some passengers on coaches experienced waiting times of up to 10 hours before being processed for their ferry journeys.
To manage the traffic flow, the Dover Traffic Assessment Project (TAP) has been implemented for the day. This temporary scheme requires HGV drivers to stay in the left-hand lane of the road leading to the port, allowing local traffic to flow through the other lane.
DFDS, one of the major ferry operators between Dover and Calais, has assured passengers who miss their scheduled ferries due to the delays that they will be accommodated on the next available journey.
Travellers planning to pass through Dover are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and to stay updated on the latest information regarding the situation. It is recommended to check with ferry operators or consult travel advisories to make appropriate travel arrangements and avoid potential disruption caused by the current delays at the port.
