The busiest international roll-on roll-off ferry port in the UK, the Port handles £144bn of trade in goods and 33% of the UK’s trade with the EU, supporting businesses across the nation.
Dover is also the UK’s second busiest cruise port, welcoming over 25 cruise lines and 200,000 guests each year and has a marina and property business primed to benefit from a new waterfront.
With a cargo business handling fresh produce, containers, project cargo, general cargo, grain and Ro-Ro traffic operating from a state-of-the-art terminal next to the world’s busiest shipping lane and on the quickest sea route to Europe, Dover is building for the future.
Our focus on sustainability is driving us forward, enabling us to keep the Port of Dover at the heart of international trade and tourism, and contributing value as a key gateway, employer, business and community partner.
The Port of Dover supports over 22,000 jobs in the local economy.
With its headquarters in Dover, P&O Ferries is one of Europe’s largest ferry operators with the most comprehensive route network and the most frequent passenger and freight services from the UK to the Continent. With a fleet of over 20 ships, P&O Ferries operates on nine routes linking the UK with ports in Belgium, France, Holland, and Ireland. Each year, P&O Ferries carries close to nine million passengers, two million freight units, and 1.7 million tourist vehicles.
One of the most famous names in shipping, P&O Ferries is owned by DPWorld. The company recently invested €360 million in the two largest ferries ever to operate from Dover to Calais at 49,000 tonnes. P&O Ferries employs 1,100 people at its headquarters in Dover and onboard its fleet of six ships on the premier Dover to Calais route.
DFDS Seaways operates one of the most comprehensive shipping networks in Northern Europe covering 20 countries and 42 destinations with a fleet of 51 ships. From Dover, DFDS Seaways operates high frequency roll-on/roll-off passenger and freight shipping services to both Calais and Dunkerque with up to 22 daily return departures. The company operates a fleet of five ships from Dover, including three purpose-built 35,923 tonne vessels for the Dunkerque service.
Irish Ferries launched their Dover-Calais route in 2021 and provide 10 crossings a day. This adds to their service between Britain and the Republic of Ireland where they are the market leader for freight and passengers.
George Hammond has been at the forefront of shipping activities in the English Channel since it was established in 1767. George Hammond is a Lloyd’s sub-Agent for Kent. Still a private company with its head office in Dover, the company employs 250 people. The company’s Port & Maritime Services division is ISO 9001-2000 accredited.
George Hammond is responsible for ship’s agency, stevedoring and freight forwarding at the Dover Cargo Terminal, Port of Dover. Handling weekly refrigerated and container shipments from West Africa and Central America, George Hammond has established Dover as one of the UK’s leading hubs for the year-round import of fresh produce. The company also offers ship’s agency to the increasing number of cruise ships that visit Dover, and pilotage and marine services to ship’s transiting the English Channel and other south east ports.
George Hammond is one of the leading independent petrol retailers in the South East, and operates seven BP-branded retail sites in Kent.
SMS Group is the UK’s leading independent ship repair specialist. The company is at the forefront of the specialised marine engineering industry and has a world-wide reputation for its expertise in structural repairs and renewals, as well as mechanical repairs both above and below the waterline. Based in Dover, SMS Group operates from Seven sites across the UK as well as providing specialist teams to shipping operators worldwide.
C.G. Hibbert is a leading supplier of branded spirits, wines and tax-free products to ferry and cruise ship operators, airlines and airports, military and diplomatic services. Established in 1767, the company has a proud history even supplying beer for the Titanic!
The company relocated to Dover in 1979 and trades from a purpose-built office and warehouse facility overlooking the English Channel.
Based in a £6.5 million state-of-the-art Maritime Skills Academy, close to Europe’s busiest passenger port, Viking Maritime has been supplying officers and crew to ship owners and operators worldwide since 1988. The company specialises in recruiting STCW certified officers and crew, as well as hospitality and guest services staff to some of the world’s most prestigious cruise lines and luxury yacht operators. The company provides a full service including recruitment, training, travel and operational needs of its international clients. The skills academy includes a full, weather effects pool for survival training, bridge and engine room simulators, and an extensive range of conference and training facilities - www.maritimeskillsacademy.com