Ferry passengers face long delays at Dover this morning after the port declared a 'critical incident'. P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways also reported delays to ferry and coach services, blaming bad weather, the Easter getaway and hold-ups at French border controls as for the queues.
The BBC reports round 70 coaches were waiting at the port to be processed early on Saturday morning, with children on school coach trips said to have been stuck at the port for more than 12 hours.
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The Port of Dover said on Saturday morning it was 'deeply frustrated' that coach traffic was suffering 'significant delays'. It said in a statement: "The Port of Dover is deeply frustrated by last night's and this morning's situation and particularly so on behalf of all the ferry operators' coach passengers who have had to endure such a long wait at the port.
"Whilst freight and car traffic was processed steadily regardless of the additional challenging weather conditions and high seasonal volumes, coach traffic suffered significant delays due to lengthy French border processes and sheer volume. Despite considerable pre-planning with our ferry operators, border agency partners and the Kent Resilience Forum and the success of similar plans for processing substantial numbers of coaches during the most recent half term period, the additional coach bookings taken by ferry operators for Easter, has impacted operations for the port.
"Through the ferry operators and the port, food and drink has been provided to those coach passengers caught up in the border queues. We offer our sincere apologies for the prolonged delays that people have endured and continue to work with all of our partners to get all passengers on their way as quickly as possible."
P&O Ferries also apologised on Twitter, saying an extra sailing has been scheduled in an effort to clear the backlog. It added that "the time it is taking to process each vehicle at French border controls" was causing the delay.
DFDS Seaways was reporting delays of up to two hours this evening due to "winds in the Channel". The firm said on Twitter: "We know it's really busy today and we want you to know that we are doing all we can to get all customers on their way as quickly as possible.
"We know this isn't the ideal start to your trip but our teams are ready to welcome you onboard once checked in."
Last year CEO of the Port of Dover warned the port could face "significant and continued disruption for a very long time" following Brexit. Doug Bannister told MPs he has been invited to Calais to view tests for the European Union's incoming Entry/Exit System (EES).
He said the port has not been given any details of the scheme's rules but expressed concern it could cause "significant and continued disruption for a very long time" following its planned introduction in May 2023. It is expected to involve travellers from non-EU countries such the UK having their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken to register them onto a database the first time they enter a member state.
The system is a key part of the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the EU, and will determine how smoothly travel to the bloc will be in the future.
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