The Dover Strait, or the Strait of Dover, is a high-traffic route located at the narrowest part of the English Channel. It is the boundary that separates Great Britain and continental Europe.
This means that the Port of Dover is the busiest international ferry port.
Able to facilitate 120 ferry movements per day, and handling £144bn worth of UK freight, the Port of Dover sees more freight come and go than all other UK ports put together.
Is your cargo set to pass through this port giant? Highly likely.
Here are three crucial things to consider before your consignment sets sail.
Be Prepared To Wait
Did we mention Dover is the busiest UK port?
Fluid operations mean it is supremely efficient, but it’s certainly not the largest. Felixstowe, the UK’s BIGGEST container port, boasts a footprint of 400 hectares compared to Dover’s modest expanse of 40ha, yet handles approximately 4.4m TEU against Dover’s 5.4TEU over the same year.
Pretty incredible when you think about it.
Dover’s ability to process trucks and ships at superspeed, and lack of waiting time, are complemented by good motorway access via the M20 and M26 and the frequency of sailings. However, several recent occurrences are threatening Dover’s reputation.
Highest on the list?…
Brexit
You might have seen the miles of trucks gridlocked on the M20 on the news.
Brexit is partially to blame for the crazy traffic congestion around Dover in recent months, according to the head of the British Ports Association. With extra documentation measures in place for all vehicles passing through, the process is noticeably slower.
P&O Ferries didn’t help matters when they fired 800 workers earlier this year, translating into a massive spike in congestion for the Eurotunnel and Port of Dover alike. With the post-pandemic holiday season looming, Dover recognised the threat and protected itself against the onslaught of vehicles with increased facilities and a dedicated team of workers.
Dover was ready. However, extreme shortages of border control staff meant that cars, and therefore the freight trucks that were continuing to go about their journeys throughout the holidays, were stuck in queues at the port. Delays were often more than 24 hours, and congestion continues to be an issue today.
Get Your Papers In Order
Making sure that you’ve got the necessary documents for exporting or collecting your shipment is one of the easiest things you can do to speed up processing.
The four documents everyone importing to the UK include (but are not limited to):
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- EORI number
And, depending on what you’re shipping, you might need the following:
- An MSDS, or Material Safety Data Sheet, which is required for the transport of hazardous goods.
- A CE certificate. This tells customs that the products in the consignment meet EU safety, health or environmental requirements and indicates that the products comply with EU legislation.
- Certificates for Authorisation, which are granted by the owner of any intellectual property you’re moving.
- Certificates for Port Health. These regulations monitor things like food and drink.
Having your hands on the right documents means you can avoid irritating and often costly delays whilst you locate them. No documents, no goods.
Find out more about which documents you’ll need if importing goods into the UK in this recent blog.
Check Ahead Of Time
To ensure more smooth sailing and less time waiting, check the port’s website regularly on the run-up to your visit.
The port also keeps its Twitter feed up-to-date with any current or forecasted weather and congestion issues, meaning you can be in the loop wherever you are. Search for the handle @PoD_travelnews and follow it today to avoid scrambling for the page later on.
Dover Remains To Be The Gateway To EU Trade
The bubbling hive of comings and goings is an incredibly fluid freight giant, albeit with a small footprint. Maintaining smooth running and high safety standards is a huge job, so make it as easy as possible for workers to help you, and they’ll do so swiftly.
If you want to travel easily through customs and beyond, it is crucial to understand which documents you need to have on hand, especially if what you’re shipping requires extra certification that takes a while to obtain.
Looking For Further Freight Advice?
With vast knowledge about all methods of getting your goods from A to B, Millennium Cargo can help. Speak to one of our friendly team who will be happy to talk you through your options.