Seven-Hour Coach Queue Sparks Critical Incident at Port of Dover
Holidays turned into a nightmare at the Port of Dover, where coaches were stuck for up to seven hours waiting to board ferries. The chaos forced officials to declare a critical incident on Friday evening.
Massive Delays Hit P&O and DFDS Ferries
P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways both struggled as ferry and coach services ground to a halt amid the Easter rush. Bad weather and slow French border checks were blamed for the massive hold-ups.
DFDS warned on Twitter that coach waits stretched to seven hours from arrival at the port. Meanwhile, P&O stepped in to provide refreshments to stranded passengers stuck in the cruise terminal and buffer zone.
Port Officials Admit Frustration Over Chaos
A Port of Dover spokesperson said, “We are deeply frustrated by last night’s and this morning’s situation, especially for ferry operators’ coach passengers enduring such long waits.”
They added that while goods and car traffic flowed steadily despite tough weather and high volumes, coach delays piled up due to lengthy French border procedures and sheer numbers of travellers.
“Even with detailed pre-planning alongside ferry firms and border agencies, the extra coach bookings for Easter have hit port operations hard,” the spokesperson said.
Ferry Firms Respond: Extra Sailings and Faster Check-Ins
- DFDS explained that bad weather and surging coach traffic caused the logjam at Dover. They’re keeping passengers updated via social media and working with coach operators to speed up check-ins.
- P&O apologized for the delays, citing slow French border processing. They also added an extra sailing on Friday night to clear the backlog.
By Saturday morning, DFDS reported that coach transit times had eased, with around two to three hours from waiting areas to the port and an additional two hours in the buffer zone.
With holidaymakers facing unprecedented frustration, the Port of Dover and ferry companies are scrambling to get travellers moving again after one of the busiest—and busiest—Easter weekends in recent memory.
