Press Release

DFDS has continued to run its full sailing schedule throughout this week, including during the ban on travel to France. The company is ready to transport freight drivers and their vehicles and any passengers who have valid essential reasons to travel in line with French government guidelines and who have a negative covid test.

The company shares the frustration and disappointment that our freight customers have felt in not being able to travel, and we fully understand the issues that this has created for local residents in Dover and the wider East Kent area. DFDS is playing its part to try to clear the backlog of trucks and our number one priority is the welfare and repatriation of everyone who is dependent on its services.

The borders were reopened for freight drivers with a negative test as at midnight on Tuesday and since then DFDS has had capacity to ship up to 4,000 trucks; due to the logistical issues that have prevented freight getting to the port we have unfortunately only been able to transport 144 trucks out of Dover.

We understand that this is very disappointing for drivers who are currently stuck in queues or at the Manston lorry park and the company has already added extra sailings to its schedule today to help more drivers get home.

Christmas Day is the only day of the year that the port of Dover is closed. At noon today we have received a formal request to operate sailings from the UK government and authorities in the European Union to help to resolve these extraordinary set of circumstances.

We can confirm we will be operating additional sailings during Christmas Day to help clear the backlog of vehicles. Please ensure you do not come to the port unless you have a booking and a negative test.