The British port of Dover accused French authorities on Friday of “ruining the holidays” for many families due to a lack of customs staff, causing huge queues in the southeastern English city.
With the start of school holidays for many English people, this is one of the busiest times for the port from which ferries leave for France. Before crossing the Channel, the French customs check the passports of the passengers.
But “the lack of staff at the French border is ruining the start of the holiday,” the port accused in a press release.
“In a new world of post-Brexit and Covid controls, we have worked to increase control booths at the French border by 50%”, indicates the port of Dover but “the (French) staff is insufficient and far from what is necessary to ensure a good first weekend of summer”.
Up to 6 hours of waiting
“French customs let us down this morning,” port director Doug Bannister told the BBC, referring to a “critical incident”.
He advised passengers to “refrain from coming to the port for now” due to gigantic queues, with tourists and cargo trucks stuck on the region’s highways.
“I booked the 8 hour ferry from Dover and it’s a total gridlock. I’ve moved 50 meters in an hour. At this rate it will take me 34 hours to get to port,” said one user on Twitter shortly before 7 am.
Another adds having “waited five hours and still not be in port.”
Faced with the disruption, ferry operator P&O Ferries advised on Friday “to allow at least six hours to get through all security checks,” advising passengers to bring food and water.
Source: BFM TV
