Port welcomes Minister to Dover

The Port of Dover has welcomed the visit of Shipping & Ports Minister Stephen Hammond, who has today set out his plan for the Port of Dover to continue as a Trust Port.

George Jenkins, Chairman of the Dover Harbour Board, said: "I welcome the praise of the Minister for the work that has been done by the refreshed board and executive team in improving relationships with Port users, while also re-launching and developing engagement with the local community. With our recently announced vision for the Dover Western Docks Revival capable of supporting major inward investment into Dover, I am delighted that the Minister wishes to give us his backing in creating a thriving port which in turn supports and delivers for a thriving town. We will be resolute in continuing our engagement with the community; this is a real opportunity for the Port and Town of Dover to come together and deliver an exciting future for all."

During his visit Mr.Hammond viewed some of the developments in port infrastructure that have been delivered in the last 12 months. He said: "The port has put in an excellent performance over the past year with a 13% increase in ro-ro traffic, and an £85 million investment programme in key infrastructure projects. This includes the completed berth 6 and traffic management improvement works which include the creation of a new holding area with capacity for 220 freight vehicles. This is equivalent to taking almost 4 km of traffic off Dover's roads."

Mr.Hammond added "I would also like to thank everyone at the port for their remarkable resilience in ensuring that the port continued to operate effectively during the appalling weather we experienced this winter."

Commenting on the visit and the announcement, Port of Dover Chief Executive, Tim Waggott said: "I am grateful to the Minister for praising our hardworking team on all they have achieved, and for providing the certainty on Trust Port status they have craved for some time. Our commitment to be the Best Port in the World for the benefit of our customers and community is clear, and I look forward to further enhancing our relationships as we develop a shared vision to the benefit of future generations."