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Outcomes, Ideas, Opportunities and Challenges

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What are the outcomes we want to achieve?

We want to achieve the best outcomes for all our stakeholders, including our employees, our customers, our community, businesses, and local and national authority partners, in line with our vision.

By understanding the challenges we face now and in the future as well as the things that we all value the most, we can begin to define what those outcomes could be.

Here are the outcomes that we have come up with that we sought your feedback on.

Our Outcomes

  • Attract new commercial customers, as well as retain existing customers
  • Finding ways to bring in more investment into the Port
  • Increased revenue to support future growth
  • Find ways for the Port to partner with other institutions to support delivery of future plans
  • Ensure the local community benefits from the Port as a ‘good neighbour’
  •  Create an outstanding destination for people to live and work in, and enjoy
  • More job creation and opportunities for training, education and skills development
  • Connect people with local heritage and the natural environment
  • Neutralise the impact of greenhouse gases (‘net zero’)
  • Provision of clean electricity to hybrid or fully electric ferries, cruise and cargo vessels
  • Minimise waste and maximise use and re-use of resources
  • Restore nature in places that helps the Port adapt to climate change while enhancing the waterfront and wider port
  • Increased capacity to meet future traffic projections
  • Better connections between the Eastern Docks, Waterfront and Western Docks
  • A better customer experience for passengers, including their journey to, through and from the Port
  • Better services and facilities for tourist passengers, freight drivers and employees
  • Increased appeal of the Port and surrounding area as a destination for cruise passengers and cruise lines
  • Improved transport connections between the Port and town of Dover and the surrounding area
  • Local investment in maritime skills development
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Ideas for Change

In an earlier stage of the project, we developed 16 areas of possible change for the Port which we sought your feedback on.

These ideas were developed following:

  • Our research and analysis of the current opportunities and challenges facing the Port.
  • Consideration of future climate, technological, travel, and other trends.
  • Input from our employees, stakeholders, travel and other trends.

These were ideas rather than formal proposals. Following feedback, practicality and investment priorities, some of these have progressed into our plans, and some have not.

Thank you for submitting your comments. Scroll to see our 16 ideas for change.


1.Deliver new pre-departure facilities for ferry and cruise passengers to enhance customer experience.


2.Improve the customer experience for all users through enhanced separation of routes and facilities for tourists and freight drivers, and customer fast lanes.


3.Enable greater flexibility of land use across the Port estate to respond quickly to changing customer and business demands.


4.Create dedicated routes for Port traffic between the Eastern and Western Docks to enhance the efficiency of operations and to reduce impact on local road network.

5.Provide enhanced public transport and walking/cycling connections within the Port and to the town centre, railway station and key attractions.


6.Enhance amenity at the waterfront and rejuvenate and better utilise the area for new and different purposes (e.g. hotel, new office or workspace).


7.Develop a new major visitor attraction at the Port that brings people to Dover as a destination and enhances the visitor experience.


8.Develop a safer and more pleasant experience for pedestrians and cyclists within and to the Western Docks to access cruise services and seafront.

9.Create a new Maritime Academy to develop port-related skills, conduct research and promote innovation.


10.Operate cargo business 24 hours a day creating new jobs and increasing capacity of the Port to process the import and export of goods.


11.Reclaim additional land from the sea within the Port’s existing boundaries to increase the Port’s capacity to support travel and trade.

12.Use digital technology to improve the safety, security and flow of traffic through border controls, around the Port and on the public highway.


13.Create new and more flexible infrastructure to allow different types of vessel to berth anywhere in the Port.

14.Widen the beach to enhance the Waterfront for local people and visitors to enjoy while helping adapt to climate change.


15.Enable new and existing infrastructure to withstand climate change, including rising sea levels, temperatures, and increased frequency and intensity of storms.

16.Create electric charging capability for vessels and energy storage/renewable energy generation to support efficient Port infrastructure.

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Value Drivers

The Port succeeds, when we are able to deliver positive outcomes for all those who use, work, and are impacted by the Port's activities and offer.

Our future plans must be affordable, realisable, and deliver positive social, economic, and environmental benefits.

We have broke our desired outcomes from Port of Dover 2050 into four different value drivers with clear desired impacts associated with each.

ECONOMIC

Benefits to the local, regional and national economy

The Port of Dover provides better connections, which empowers exchange: of goods, cultures, experiences and ideas. Exchange creates growth and makes trade and innovation flow, supporting the economic success of the District of Dover, Kent and the UK.


FINANCIAL

Returns to Port of Dover and investors

The Port of Dover is a commercially successful organisation, enabling investment for the Port of Dover 2050 project and securing the future of the Port.


ENVIRONMENTAL

Benefits to nature

The Port of Dover delivers benefits to nature, recognising current and future environmental drivers.


SOCIAL

Benefits for people

The Port of Dover is delivering value to our diverse employees, visitors and local communities, through our inclusive approach.

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Current Challenges Facing the Port

  • Different key business activities operating next to each other with competing demands for space in which to operate and grow
  • Mix of activities that need to coexist together
  • Lack of physical space restricts the potential for growth
  • Ageing port infrastructure and buildings need to be updated or replaced
  • More complex border requirements causing longer processing times for passengers
  • Disruption to cross-Channel travel has negative impacts far beyond the Port’s boundary
  • Opportunity to improve connections to town centre and rail station
  • How to attract more people to explore and enjoy a vibrant waterfront

Future Challenges Facing the Port

Climate and Environment

  • Rising sea level
  • More frequent and extreme weather events
  • Changes in travel and tourist patterns
  • The need to decarbonise maritime transport
  • Stricter environmental rules
  • Transition from Net Zero to Net Gain i.e. actually having a positive impact on the environment

Technology, Assets and Operations

  • Rapidly growing digitalisation (e.g. artificial intelligence) and automation of Port operations

  • Meeting the rise in electric and low-carbon fuel vehicles

  • Ageing assets (e.g. infrastructure, buildings)

  • Further complexity in border control processes

  • Not enough people with the skills needed for future jobs

Trade, Travel and Community

  • Trade routes shifting due to global political tensions
  • A shift towards travel by bike or on foot instead of motorised transport
  • A rise in unaccompanied freight (i.e. without a cab and driver)
  • Increasing environmental awareness influencing what, from where and how people buy goods
  • Increasing migration from places badly affected by climate change, conflict or economic hardship