Dover' third ferry operator has its second ship.

The Isle of Innisfree was launched last Thursday and Irish Ferries will unveil its third vessel next month.

This means the company will offer up to 30 sailings per day on the Dover-Calais route, with sailings in each direction about every 90 minutes.

With P&O Ferries and DFDS already long established this means Dover will have an inbound ferry every 25 minutes.

Doug Bannister, chief executive at the Port of Dover, said: “The capacity added by Irish Ferries on the route is testament to the ongoing confidence in the Short Straits.

"The market continues to choose the high pace, frequency and capacity offered by Dover, and in turn, the Port offers customers more choice, moving from two to three operators in 2021."

Irish Ferries, a subsidiary of Irish Continental Group plc (ICG), began its service on the Dover-Calais route on June 29 this year, with the Isle of Inishmore.

The Port of Dover is the UK's busiest international ferry port, handling more lorries than all other UK ports.

It can take 120 ferry movements and 110 miles of freight a day.

A total £144bn worth of UK trade and 33% of all trade with the EU is handled by this port.