• 40,000 additional freight crossings; record 2,363,583 freight journeys
• tourist car journeys up 7.2 per cent to 2,837,559 – the highest since 1999
• 4 million coach passengers on 105,000 coaches
• 132 cruise ships carrying 211,778 passengers, generating £3.8 million income
• profit before tax rose 38 per cent to £20.6million
• revenue from ferry activity up 1.7 per cent to £42.7 million

Forty-thousand extra freight movements through the Port of Dover pushed the port to a new record high of 2,363,583 journeys, according to the 2007 annual report of the Dover Harbour Board.

Motoring tourists returned in their thousands to ferries, as continued consolidation of the low-cost airlines and increasing airport taxes and delays reduced the appeal of short-haul flights in favour of drive-and-sail holidays. The number of tourist car journeys was up 7.2 per cent to more than 2.8million – the highest since 1999.

For the sixth year running, turnover increased with revenues reaching £57.7 million, an increase of £1 million over 2006. Revenue from ferry activity rose by 1.7 per cent to £42.7 million; and profit before tax rose significantly to £20.6million as a result of improved efficiency and increased investment income.

The Port of Dover is one of the world’s busiest international ferry ports and the second busiest UK cruise port. The growth in passenger travel and freight volumes is driving the Port to operate at almost its maximum capacity, with forecasts for this growth set to continue.

This growth is a driver for the Board to build its reserves: during 2007, the Board invested £5.8 million on capital projects. Cash reserves to fund future capital works increased by £18.7 million in line with the Port’s longer-term plans for a £400 million expansion programme to build a second ferry terminal with four ferry berths within the harbour.

Proposals are currently the subject of an environmental impact study, due for completion mid-2008. The Board anticipates beginning the formal planning consent process before the end of this year and start building in 2010.

Ongoing investment projects include a £4 million scheme to improve traffic flows for vehicles exiting the Port of Dover’s ferry terminal and local traffic heading for the A2. Construction is due to start in April 2008, with completion planned for March 2009.

Bob Goldfield, Chief Executive, said: “With significant projected growth in the freight business and increases in tourist markets, we need to look to expanding the Port’s capacity. We finished 2007 in a strong financial position, and are poised to realise our longer-term investment aspirations to develop the Port to capitalise on this growth.”

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