Port of Dover passengers stranded overnight in queues on first day of Easter holidays

Passengers have been left stranded overnight at the Port of Dover after delays at French border control and increased coach numbers triggered a “critical incident”.

P&O Ferries said coach queues are “taking 2-3 hours”, while DFDS Seaways apologised for waits of “up to 120 minutes” for coaches and cars.

One woman told Sky News she has been stranded on a bus for “12 hours already”.

The port said coach waits are “still several hours”, but “tourist cars are getting through OK”.

In a statement, it cited “lengthy French border processes” and the “sheer volume” of traffic on the first day of the school Easter holidays.

Rosie, a woman travelling on a coach with her family, said they were “left overnight” with “no idea how long we’ll be here”.

“We’ve been waiting for 12 hours already and it’ll be at least another two or three before we get on the ferry,” she told Sky News on Saturday morning.

“It’s very frustrating. I’m an environmental campaigner, I forced my family to get on this bus instead of flying.

“It’s supposed to be an easy overnight trip, but it’s absolute carnage and there’s no excuse for it at all.”

Port staff ‘deeply frustrated’

The port said: “The Port of Dover is deeply frustrated by last night’s and this morning’s situation and particularly so on behalf of all the ferry operators’ coach passengers who have had to endure such a long wait at the port.

“Whilst freight and car traffic was processed steadily regardless of the additional challenging weather conditions and high seasonal volumes, coach traffic suffered significant delays due to lengthy French border processes and sheer volume.”

They added that “additional coach bookings taken by ferry operators for Easter has impacted operations for the port”.

P&O Ferries said it was providing refreshments to coach passengers who had been stuck at the cruise terminal for hours.

The company also said it was trying to get food and drink to passengers waiting in the buffer zone at the entrance to the port.

It blamed “the time it is taking to process each vehicle at French border controls” for the delay.

Meanwhile DFDS Seaways said it is “operating a cross channel shuttle service” so “all passengers can be shipped on the first available departure upon arrival at check in”.

They added in a tweet that traffic is “flowing freely” at Dover.

The company posted at multiple points on Friday: “We know it’s really busy today and we want you to know that we are doing all we can to get all customers on their way as quickly as possible.

“We know this isn’t the ideal start to your trip but our teams are ready to welcome you onboard once checked in.”