Record year for port of Dover

A RISE in the cost of flights and long check-in queues at airports are being given as reasons for an increase in the use of cross Channel ferries, the Dover Harbour Board claims.

The number of tourist car journeys through the port was up 7.2 per cent on last year to more than 2.8million, the highest since 1999.

Speaking at the publication of the harbour board's report for 2007, chief executive Bob Goldfield said airport taxes and delays had reduced the appeal of short-haul flights in favour of drive-and-sail holidays, and the port had to have an eye on expansion.

"With significant projected growth in the freight business and increases in tourist markets, we need to look to expanding the port’s capacity," said Bob Goldfield.

"We finished 2007 in a strong financial position, and are poised to realise our longer-term investment aspirations to develop the port to capitalise on this growth."

Forty-thousand extra freight movements through Dover pushed the number of freight journeys to a record high of 2,363,583, while four million coach passengers on 105,000 coaches passed through the port.

The Dover Harbour Port is currently looking at plans for a £400 million expansion programme to build a second ferry terminal with four ferry berths within the harbour, with the formal planning consent process set to start at the end of this year.