Ferry boost 'from airport delays'

Tourist car journeys reached nearly 2.84m last year

Airport taxes and delays have led motoring tourists to return to ferries "in their thousands", according to Dover Harbour Board.

The board said tourist car journeys reached nearly 2.84m last year - the highest annual total since 1999.

Chief executive Bob Goldfield said airport taxes and delays had reduced the appeal of short-haul flights in favour of drive-and-sail holidays.

He said the board was now looking to expand the port's capacity.

Second terminal

Latest figures from the port showed that revenue from ferry activity at Dover in 2007 rose 1.7% to �42.7m, and the port's total profit before tax increased by 38% to �20.6m.

Dover also had a record 2.36m freight journeys last year, while four million coach passengers were carried on 105,000 coaches.

Cruise ships visited Dover on 132 occasions, carrying nearly 212,000 passengers and generating income of �3.8m.

The board said cash reserves for future capital works increased by �18.7m - a �400m expansion programme at the port includes a planned second ferry terminal with four berths in the harbour.

Proposals for a second terminal are currently the subject of an environmental impact study, which is due to be completed this year.

The formal planning process is due to get under way before the end of this year, with building due to start in 2010, the board said.

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