Buckinghamshire New University pays a 'flying' visit to the Port of Dover

The Port of Dover became an airport for the day last Friday as final year students from Buckinghamshire New University visited to find out about the similarities between running a busy airport and managing Europe's busiest international ferry port.

Handling 13 million passengers each year, the Port of Dover would equate to the UK's fifth busiest airport. The students, training to be pilots and studying BA (Hons) Airline and Airport Management degrees, were given an insight into how the Port handles such volumes effectively alongside the 4.7 million vehicles that also pass through annually.

Dr Sarah Jane Fox, Senior Lecturer in Aviation at Buckinghamshire New University, said: "I wanted to increase the students' knowledge of running a business involving freight and passenger movements, to look at the similarities between airports and port operations so apparent at the Port of Dover, and to establish a better appreciation of the wider logistics chain of which the Port is a critical part."

Following a warm welcome by the Port's Chief Executive, Tim Waggott, the group visited Terminal Control, the nerve centre of the landside operation, where they were given a presentation by Emma Ward, Head of Operations Eastern Docks, on how the Port facilitates the movement of so many passengers through the ferry terminal.

Emma Ward said: "We were delighted to welcome the students and show just how intensive the operation is here at the Port of Dover and how we therefore have to operate extremely efficiently, running in a similar way to a major airport."

The group also went to Port Control where Paul Brown, General Manager of Operations and Chief Harbour Master, explained how the Port is responsible for and ensures the safe movement of vessels in the Port, on average one every ten minutes.

Dr Fox added: "The students really enjoyed their visit to the Port to the point where one student is now considering a Port-related career rather than one in aviation. It was fascinating and rewarding to see such an iconic port at work."