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More on KentOnline
The Port of Dover has been shortlisted for an award for helping get lorry drivers home during the pre-Christmas snarl-up.
In December last year, huge queues of HGVs built up on the M20 for several days, while others were diverted to Manston Airport, as the authorities found themselves juggling issues caused by both Covid and Brexit.
The port authority worked with ferry operators and government agencies to get foreign truckers back across the Channel in the run-up to last Christmas.
They had been stranded in Dover when France closed its borders for three days until December 23 to stop a new Covid variant reaching the country.
The borders reopened and ferries ran on Christmas Day, which usually never happens.
This also happened as the port was also preparing to deal with the end of the Brexit Transition Period, on New Year's Eve, with great national and international attention already on Dover.
As a result, the port is in the running for Logistics UK's Logistics Award in the Outstanding Response to Covid category.
Sarah West, chief operations officer, Port of Dover, said: “The port recognised how crucial it was that essential goods continued to flow as they have done via Dover throughout the pandemic.
"But also that the people who deliver them to the UK’s consumers and businesses were desperate to get back home to be with their families.
"I am thrilled that the UK’s logistics industry has acknowledged that work and am proud of everyone here who made it happen.”
The authority was also nominated in the Water Business of the Year category.
Doug Bannister, chief executive at the Port of Dover, added: "As clearly demonstrated by the arrival of new ferry operators and new ships, there is renewed market confidence that Dover can still be relied upon as the quickest, most efficient trade route to the UK’s largest single trading partner.
"This is as we continue to support the economy through Covid and beyond Brexit.”
A third ferry operator, Irish Ferries, began sailings from the port from June 29.
