Dover Port Advises Travelers to Prepare for Delays During Half Term

The Port of Dover has advised ferry passengers to prepare for delays as the half term getaway begins this weekend. It is the first major holiday period since the EU's Entry Exit System began operating at external borders of the Schengen area on 10 April. At Dover, French border officials are creating traveler profiles but have not yet activated machines that collect fingerprints and photos.

Approximately 18,000 cars and 400 coaches are scheduled to pass through the port between Friday and Sunday. Saturday is expected to be the busiest day. The port has designated the Lydden Hill car racing track as a holding area if queues become severe enough to affect local roads. Officials may suspend the new border process if delays grow significantly.

The Port of Dover recommends that travelers use main roads, arrive no more than two hours before departure, and have documents ready. Passengers should also bring water, snacks, and entertainment for children. Similar procedures are in place at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone, where French officials are creating profiles without collecting biometric data.

Eurostar's London St Pancras station has also begun creating files for some passengers. Easyjet chief executive Kenton Jarvis told the BBC on Thursday that problems caused by the system were unacceptable and urged European countries to consider returning to manual passport stamping if needed.