Latest news with #PortofDover
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Cruise ships will sail from the Port of Dover this summer – with sailings to Norway, Malta, Portugal and more
Carnival Miracle is among cruise ships that have made inaugural calls in Kent this month as the Port of Dover prepares for its high season. Southampton may be the main UK port for cruises but Dover will have hosted four inaugural calls for ships during May and has five regular brands departing from its terminal, providing another departure option for UK passengers. Windstar's Star Pride and Ponant's Le Laperouse and Le Bellot ships stopped at the port for the first time this month, meaning more than 3,000 new guests have travelled into the region in May. The Port of Dover expanded its mooring facilities earlier this year to make room for larger ships and can now host three vessels at once. Peter Wright, head of cruise at the Port of Dover, said: 'We are thrilled to launch our 2025 season with Carnival and their guests, and to see another member of their fleet begin her set of nine turnaround calls this year. 'We also had the pleasure of welcoming both Star Pride and Le Laperouse for their debut calls. 'It was wonderful seeing these two unique ships moored alongside each other in front of the White Cliffs and making use of our wide-ranging facilities catering for different ship sizes and styles.' The Windstar and Ponant ships were only in port for a visit during longer sailings but there are a range of cruise brands departing from Dover in the coming months. Carnival Miracle The 2,670-capacity Carnival Miracle made its debut in Dover this month. The vessel is hosting British Isles sailings from the port after just coming out of drydock following a refresh that includes a new Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge and Cloud 9 Spa. Passengers can also enjoy the ship's refreshed mini-golf course and eat at a new chef's table experience. Carnival Miracle will homeport in Dover until early August for a series of nine and 12-day itineraries across the British Isles, Scandinavia, the Baltics and northern Europe. Prices start from £747 per person for a nine-day Spain, Portugal and France cruise that departs on 30 May. Saga Cruises Over-50s brand Saga Cruises has regular departures from Dover aboard both Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure. Itineraries include sailings around Britain and Norway, including a seven-night Norwegian fjords summertime cruise departing on 15 August from £2,822 per person. Fred Olsen's 1,360-capacity Borealis is departing from Dover throughout the summer. Passengers can enjoy sailings to the Norwegian fjords, Iceland and the Azores region in Portugal Other highlights include its 11-night Malta and Scenic Sights of Croatia sailing, departing on 5 June from £1,299 per person. Seabourn Sojourn Luxury cruise brand Seabourn has six sailings from Dover until early August aboard its Sojourn ship, which caters for 458 passengers. Itineraries include sailings to Iceland and Norway as well as a seven-day Castles, Lochs and Scottish Highlands cruise departing on 2 August from £4,164 per person. Holland America Nieuw Statendam Holland America's Nieuw Statendam ship has several sailings from Dover until September. It marks Holland America Line's first UK season in 10 years, with the 2,666-guest ship.
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Government considers sale of Brexit border checkpoint in Kent
The UK government is reportedly considering selling a post-Brexit border check facility in Kent that could fall out of use as a result of this week's trade pact with the EU. The site, based in Sevington, Ashford, was erected in 2021 with capacity for 1,300 lorries that were expected to face extra checks on plants and animal goods, including dairy and meat, entering and leaving Britain after Brexit. However, the deal between the UK and EU struck earlier this week is due to remove the need for routine health and veterinary certification on the import and export of farm products ranging from fresh meat and dairy products to vegetables, timber, wool and leather. The government is now on the hunt for a company willing to buy or repurpose the Sevington border control point. Ministers are said to have approached Eurotunnel directly, according to the Financial Times. The Port of Dover could also be in the running, having been in discussions with the government for years about the site. The Port of Dover chief executive, Doug Bannister, welcomed the UK government's deal with the EU. 'Clearly there is a lot of detail to work through on how that's to be implemented and we're keen to continue our discussions with government for what this means for the BCP [border control post] at Sevington,' he said. The new UK-EU deal could end up making 41 BCPs, built by British port operators in the wake of Brexit, redundant. The Guardian revealed on Wednesday that a separate £25m post-Brexit BCP in Portsmouth may have to be demolished as a result of the government's deal with the EU. The hi-tech facility at the UK's second busiest cross-Channel terminal was one of more than 100 BCPs around the country built to government specifications to handle post-Brexit checks on imports subject to sanitary and phytosanitary checks. Boasting 14 lorry bays, Portsmouth's 8,000 sq metre (86,000 sq ft) border site was designed to allow inspection of low- and high-risk goods in air-lock quarantine zones to prevent cross-contamination. However, it has been severely underused since it began operating in April last year, after the previous Conservative government's changes to the post-Brexit import regime, which significantly reduced the number of tests required. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion An average of three checks have been carried out each day at Portsmouth's BCP in the 12 months since it began operating, compared with the 80 a day for which it was built. It is understood that a decision on whether to close BCPs will depend on the final details of the UK-EU deal. Some checks, including on live animals, are expected to continue. A government spokesperson said: 'This government committed in its manifesto to negotiate an agreement to prevent unnecessary border checks, remove red tape for businesses and help tackle the cost of food, which is what we have delivered on.' Eurotunnel declined to comment.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Major motorway tunnel used by 150,000 drivers a day to CLOSE for maintenance
A BUSY major motorway used by thousands of drivers every day will close for maintenance - check your route. The controversial Operation Brock contraflow will principally affect motorists as we head into the spring bank holiday weekend. 1 The Dartford Crossing, which connects Dartford in Kent to Thurrock in Essex, will undergo overnight works which are set to trigger significant disruption. National Highways also confirmed that the M20 motorway will be closed between Maidstone and Ashford overnight on Wednesday from 8pm so Operation Brock can be deployed. This is at the request of the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum as higher passenger numbers are anticipated at the county's ports over the bank holiday weekend. The London-bound carriageway will shut between Junction 9 and Junction 8 from 8pm to 6am, while at the same time the coastbound carriageway will close between Junctions 7 and 9. Coastbound traffic will be diverted via the A249, M2, A2, and A20, as London-bound journeys are diverted via the A20, A2, M2 and A229. The Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) said the decision was 'not taken lightly' and was made to help reduce delays at the Port of Dover and in the surrounding areas during the busy period. There is also a possibility that the contraflow could be reinstated for the summer holidays as it was in 2024 reports KentLiveNews. It is yet to be confirmed whether or not the contraflow will make a return for summer 2025, and Kent County Council has said that the KMRF will 'take a view on the traffic management needed over the summer months once more accurate data is available.' However, the government is working on a permanent solution to the problem of congestion at the Port of Dover backing up traffic deep into Kent. The new system would use a combination of new digital technology and off-road sites to hold HGVs during disruption, but is still in the early planning stages. Here is a breakdown of the roadworks this week. Monday, May 19 The A2 eastbound will shut from Tollgate to the M2 Junction 2 between 8pm and 6am for survey works. The A2 eastbound Pepperhill entry slip will shut from 8pm to 6am for survey works. The A2 eastbound Ebbsfleet entry slip will be closed between 8pm and 6am for survey works. The A2 westbound Darenth Interchange to M25 anti-clockwise Junction 2 link road will shut from 10pm to 5am for joint replacement works. The A20 westbound will close between Swanley Interchange and Ruxley from 10pm to 5.30am for resurfacing. The A21 northbound and southbound Intch Roundabout exit slip roads will shut between 9pm and 5am for KCC works. The A282 northbound west tunnel of the Dartford Crossing will shut between 9pm and 5am for tunnel works. Traffic will be diverted via the east tunnel. The M2 eastbound Junction 5 entry slip will shut from 8pm to 6am for survey works. The M20 eastbound between the Junction 6 exit and entry slip distributor road will close from 8pm to 6am for survey works. The M20 eastbound Junction 6 entry slip will close from 8pm to 6am for survey works. The M20 eastbound Junction 5 entry and exit slips will close from 8pm to 6am for barrier works. The M20 eastbound Junction 5 distributor road between the exit and entry slips will shut from 8pm to 6am for barrier works. The M20 eastbound Junction 2 exit slip will be shut between 10pm and 5am for maintenance. Tuesday, May 20 The A2 eastbound will shut from Tollgate to the M2 Junction 2 between 8pm and 6am for survey works. The A2 eastbound Pepperhill entry slip will shut from 8pm to 6am for survey works. The A2 eastbound Ebbsfleet entry slip will be closed between 8pm and 6am for survey works. The A2 eastbound will close between Adisham Road and Westcourt Road from 11pm to 5am for maintenance. The A2 westbound Darenth Interchange to M25 anti-clockwise Junction 2 link road will shut from 10pm to 5am for joint replacement works. The A20 westbound will close between Swanley Interchange and Ruxley from 10pm to 5.30am for resurfacing. The A21 northbound and southbound Intch Roundabout exit slip roads will shut between 9pm and 5am for KCC works. The A21 will close in both directions between Coopers Corner and Johns Cross from 9pm to 5am for South East Water works. The A282 northbound west tunnel of the Dartford Crossing will shut between 9pm and 5am for tunnel works. Traffic will be diverted via the east tunnel. The M20 westbound Junction 6 to Junction 5 distributor road will be shut from 8pm to 6am for barrier works. The M20 westbound Junction 6 entry and exit slips will shut from 8pm to 6am for barrier works. The M20 westbound Junction 5 exit slip will close from 8pm to 6am for barrier works. The M20 eastbound Junction 2 exit slip will close from 10pm to 5am for maintenance. Wednesday, May 21 The A2 westbound Canterbury Road entry slip will shut from 8pm to 5am for maintenance. The A2 westbound Darenth Interchange to M25 anti-clockwise Junction 2 link road will shut from 10pm to 5am for joint replacement works. The A20 westbound will close between Swanley Interchange and Ruxley from 10pm to 5.30am for resurfacing. The A21 northbound and southbound Intch Roundabout exit slip roads will shut between 9pm and 5am for KCC works. The A282 northbound west tunnel of the Dartford Crossing will shut between 9pm and 5am for tunnel works. Traffic will be diverted via the east tunnel. The M20 London-bound will close from Junction 9 to Junction 8 between 8pm and 6am for the reintroduction of Operation Brock. Traffic will be diverted via the A20, A2, M2 and A229. The M20 coastbound will close from Junction 7 to Junction 9 between 8pm and 6am for the reintroduction of Operation Brock. Traffic will be diverted via the A249, M2, A2, and A20. The M20 eastbound Junction 8 entry slip will be shut while Operation Brock is in effect. The M20 westbound Junction 2 entry slip will be closed from 10pm to 5am for maintenance. The M26 eastbound will close from Junction 2a to the M20 Junction 3 between 10pm and 5.30am for drainage works. The eastbound Junction 2a entry slip will also be closed during this time. Thursday, May 22 The A2 eastbound will shut from Tollgate to the M2 Junction 2 between 8pm and 6am for survey works. The A2 eastbound Pepperhill entry slip will shut from 8pm to 6am for survey works. The A2 eastbound Ebbsfleet entry slip will be closed between 8pm and 6am for survey works. The A2 westbound Darenth Interchange to M25 anti-clockwise Junction 2 link road will shut from 10pm to 5am for joint replacement works. The A282 northbound west tunnel of the Dartford Crossing will shut between 9pm and 5am for tunnel works. Traffic will be diverted via the east tunnel. The A282 southbound Junction 1a exit slip will shut from 10pm to 5.30am for resurfacing. The M20 westbound Junction 6 to Junction 5 distributor road will be shut from 8pm to 6am for barrier works. The M20 westbound Junction 6 entry and exit slips will shut from 8pm to 6am for barrier works. The M20 westbound Junction 5 exit slip will close from 8pm to 6am for barrier works. The M20 eastbound Junction 8 entry slip will be shut while Operation Brock is in effect. The M26 eastbound will close from Junction 2a to the M20 Junction 3 between 10pm and 5.30am for drainage works. The eastbound Junction 2a entry slip will also be closed during this time. Friday, May 23 to Sunday, May 25 The M20 eastbound Junction 8 entry slip will be shut while Operation Brock is in effect. There are no further planned closures on the A2, A20, A21, M2, M20, M25 or M26 in Kent between these dates.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Busy major motorway used by thousands of drivers every day to SHUT tomorrow
A BUSY major motorway used by thousands of drivers every day is set to shut tomorrow - check your route. The controversial Operation Brock contraflow will return ahead of the spring bank holiday weekend. 2 2 National Highways has confirmed that the M20 motorway will be closed between Maidstone and Ashford overnight on Wednesday from 8pm so Operation Brock can be deployed. This is at the request of the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum as higher passenger numbers are anticipated at the county's ports over the bank holiday weekend. The London-bound carriageway will shut between Junction 9 and Junction 8 from 8pm to 6am, while at the same time the coastbound carriageway will close between Junctions 7 and 9. Coastbound traffic will be diverted via the A249, M2, A2, and A20, as London-bound journeys are diverted via the A20, A2, M2 and A229. These diversions will be fully signed and drivers have been advised to follow these signs over their own SatNav instructions. When the M20 re-opens on Thursday morning, Operation Brock will be in place and all HGV traffic headed to the Port of Dover or the Eurotunnel must follow the signs to join Operation Brock at Junction 8 for Leeds Castle and Maidstone Services. Meanwhile, all other coast-bound traffic, including local freight and cars headed to Europe, should follow the signs and cross over to enter the contraflow on the M20 London-bound carriageway. All traffic that is travelling through the contraflow must adhere to a 50mph speed limit and, while Brock is in effect, the Junction 8 coast-bound slip road will be closed to all traffic. Those who are planning to head to the Eurotunnel or the port should plan their journeys ahead and check for any updates before heading out. The system has been described as a 'massive inconvenience' for residents, and Kent MPs have questioned whether it is necessary to put it in place during every school holiday. This will mark the second time that Operation Brock has been deployed in 2025, having been reintroduced ahead of the Easter half term in April. Moment smoke billows from toll plaza on busy Irish motorway after vehicle bursts into flames The Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) said the decision was 'not taken lightly' and was made to help reduce delays at the Port of Dover and in the surrounding areas during the busy period. There is also a possibility that the contraflow could be reinstated for the summer holidays as it was in 2024 reports KentLiveNews. It is yet to be confirmed whether or not the contraflow will make a return for summer 2025, and Kent County Council has said that the KMRF will 'take a view on the traffic management needed over the summer months once more accurate data is available.' However, the government is working on a permanent solution to the problem of congestion at the Port of Dover backing up traffic deep into Kent. The new system would use a combination of new digital technology and off-road sites to hold HGVs during disruption, but is still in the early planning stages. Meanwhile, a major link road of the M5 is set to shut for three months, sparking fury from local businesses. The route connects to Junction 26 of the M5 in Somerset, and will be completely closed from Friday, June 16. until Tuesday, September 16, while £5.7million of upgrade works are carried out.
