Dover ferry port sees busiest December for four years

Dover ferry port has revealed that it "bucked the UK economic trend" at the end of 2008 when it experienced its busiest December in four years.

Ferry passenger numbers at Dover increased by 118,000 in December last year compared to the same month in 2007.

The port handled 30,000 more cars on a year-on-year basis, while the number of heavy-goods vehicles rose by nearly 10,000 to reach 173,773 last month.

Bob Goldfield, chief executive of the Port of Dover, said "several factors came into play" to boost traffic volumes in December.

"The Channel Tunnel is still operating at reduced capacity, handling roughly half its normal volumes of passengers, cars, coaches and freight," he said.

"December saw a large number of eastern European families travelling back to their home countries for Christmas this year – and of course the strong euro generated additional car, coach and foot passengers from continental Europe to the UK."

P&O Ferries and Seafrance are the two biggest users of the port, offering regular Dover to Calais ferry crossings, while Norfolkline sails from Dover to Dunkerque.

LD Lines will further boost traffic at the sea terminal this year when it launches a new service from Dover to Boulogne.

Dover - Calais

1 x Foot Passenger(s) Return

Travelling on:

13/03/2012 - 13/03/2012

£13

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Dunkerque - Dover

Car + 2 Return

Travelling on:

20/02/2012 - 20/02/2012

£19

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Dunkerque - Dover

Car + 4 Return

Travelling on:

20/02/2012 - 20/02/2012

£19

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* Prices are "from prices" and are indicative only

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