Ferry Operators and Border Hold-Ups Contribute to Extended Waiting Times
The Port of Dover has declared a critical incident following significant delays caused by heavy traffic, particularly affecting coach passengers. The situation has been exacerbated by adverse weather conditions and slow border checks at the French controls.
Operators P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways have also reported delays, with both companies attributing the long wait times to a combination of high passenger volumes due to the Easter holidays and operational disruptions. DFDS announced a wait time of approximately seven hours for coaches arriving at the port, while P&O Ferries provided refreshments to passengers in the cruise terminal and buffer zones to help ease the situation.
A spokesperson from the Port of Dover confirmed the critical incident status, stating, “We are experiencing high levels of coach traffic, compounded by lengthy processing times at border controls, which has led to delays.” The port reassured passengers that all efforts were being made to resolve the issue.
DFDS explained that poor weather conditions were partially responsible for the delays, which, combined with the busy traffic, especially from coach groups, caused extensive queues. The company continued to update passengers via social media, aiming to speed up check-ins and get travellers onto the next available sailings.
P&O Ferries also kept passengers informed via Twitter, apologising for the wait times and announcing extra sailings to manage the backlog. Both companies have been working to ensure passengers are updated and accommodated, though the delays have disrupted travel plans for many.
