Port of Dover welcomes the largest ferry ever designed for the Dover Strait

10 Jan 2011 - Port Planning, Shipping, Terminal Handling

The Port of Dover has welcomed the arrival of P&O Ferries Spirit of Britain, the largest ferry ever designed for the Dover Strait.

In advance of the arrival of the ship, the Port of Dover commissioned £8 million (US$12.4 million) of investment in its infrastructure in the last two years in order to support major customer P&O Ferries and their long-term plans for the future. This follows the £36 million ($55.9 million) of investment in two new larger berths in 2006, without which the new ships could not have been accommodated.

Major works include the extension of a berthing pier and the partial removal of the WW1 blockships in order to ensure Spirit of Britain will be berthed safely in the port and also to ensure safer navigation within the harbour for this new addition to the Dover-Calais service.

"We are pleased to welcome Spirit of Britain to her new home at the Port of Dover. The Port has responded positively to its customers' needs by adapting its infrastructure over a number of years in order to accommodate the new arrival and it has done so whilst still maintaining the level of service expected of a world-class port and the gateway to £80 billion of trade each year," said Bob Goldfield, Chief Executive, Port of Dover.

Dover Harbour Board has spent over £125 million ($194.1 million) in the last 10 years on direct port investment.

Further investment is planned in the Eastern Docks to maintain essential capacity in the short term with a £400 million ($621.3 million) proposal for a second ferry terminal awaiting Government approval.

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