Shipping Minister Mike Penning visited Dover today (Wednesday December 8) to see for himself the port in action.

Mr Penning, who was welcomed by Dover Harbour Board chairman Roger Mountford and chief executive Bob Goldfield, was taken to terminal control at the Eastern Docks where he was shown how the port processes more than 2.3 million freight vehicles each year, handling UK trade valued at some £80 billion.

Mr Mountford said: “It was a great opportunity to demonstrate our world class port in action at this busy period in the run up to Christmas and to highlight the considerable work and investment, past, present and future, ensuring that this essential gateway is fit for purpose now and in coming decades.”

The Minister met some of the port’s key staff who had been involved in managing the repatriation of tens of thousands of additional passengers during the Eurostar and volcanic ash cloud crises earlier this year.

The port was a lifeline for many passengers from all over the world who had been stranded and the ferry services through the Port of Dover provided their only means of travel home.

The Minister praised the efforts of the port. "The Port of Dover is a key international gateway and this was demonstrated even more so during the ash cloud crisis.

"I congratulate all those involved at the port in taking care of so many displaced passengers and making sure the UK was still open for business.

"The port must be able to continue to fulfill and develop its gateway role which is so critical to the UK economy.”