In 2002 1.8m lorries passed through the port of Dover

A plan has been put together to shape the port as demand for its services begins to outstrip capacity.

A team of international specialists has been appointed to look at ways of maximising the harbour's potential capacity.

The aim of the project is to provide a vision of the port as it will be in 30 years time.

Optimise existing harbour

Bill Fawcus, port general manager of property and planning, said: "When you consider the changes that have taken place over the last 30 years it is clear this is a challenging project."

Port users are to be consulted on Monday about the project followed by local and national authorities, industry experts and the community.

A report will then be produced in July.

Mr Fawcus said: "In the following six months we will look in detail at how we can optimise the existing harbour to meet the conclusions of phase one.

"Subsequent phases will look at how we might expand the port beyond the existing boundaries."

Dover is Europe's busiest freight and passenger ferry port.

Thirty years ago the ferry terminal celebrated processing 1m tourist cars along with 5.7m passengers and 200,000 lorries.

In 2002 there was 2.6m tourist cars, 16.4m passengers and 1.8m lorries.