Boxing Day travelers are facing chaos at the border at Dover, suffering delays of up to 90 minutes caused by heavy traffic.
There is currently a waiting time of 90 minutes at border control at the Dover crossing into Europe before boarding DFDS Seaways, P and O Ferries and Irish Ferries service.
Port officials are calling on travelers to have their passports on hand to help them get through queues quicker.
A spokesperson for the Port of Dover said: ‘Experiencing heavy traffic. Please allow extra time for your journey. The current waiting time in the Buffer Zone is approx. 1 hour.
‘Please have your passports ready when arriving at the French border.
‘We wish all passengers a pleasant journey.’
A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said: ‘We are aware that there is currently a longer wait on entry to the port, the teams are working hard to get customers processed as quickly as possible.
‘Please don’t worry, we will get you on to the next available sailing when you reach check-in.’
Boxing Day travelers are facing chaos at the border at Dover, suffering delays of up to 90 minutes caused by heavy traffic
Hundreds of drivers have been left stranded for more than two hours trying to access the Port of Dover on Boxing Day, as gridlock brought the town to a standstill
DFDS Seaways said due to the delays it would be implementing a cross-channel shuttle service.
Posting on X a statement read: ‘Due to traffic congestion at Dover Port, we will be implementing a cross-channel shuttle service.
‘Please be assured that we will get you onboard and on your way as soon as you reach us, with all passengers boarded on the first available departure upon check-in.’
It comes just a day after dozens of migrants were intercepted crossing the English Channel in small boats amid calm seas despite murky conditions on Christmas Day.
People smugglers took advantage of gentle waters for the first time in two weeks as inflatables took to the water in the early hours of the morning
It is the first crossing since December 14, when 160 people in three dinghies were picked up by Britain’s coastguard and border force.
Storms and strong winds had whipped up The Channel, making crossings impossible until yesterday
But several boats were seen making the dangerous journey from France early in the morning
The Border Force vessels Ranger and the small boat recovery ship Tacu as well as the French rescue ship Abeille Normandie could be seen positioned mid-Channel north of Normandy.
The Border Force Volunteer was also positioned in the middle of the Dover Strait of Calais while the Border Force Hunter was seen returning to the Port of Dover, according to the shipping website Marine Traffic.
Groups were brought ashore at the Port of Dover in Kent before dawn on a Border Force vessel.
