OPERATORS at the Port of Dover will monitor plans by the new port owners at Folkestone to increase business there.

The newly-formed Folkestone Harbour Company Limited is targeting increases in cargo handling, as more companies begin using the port's facilities and services.

The growth in using the port for cargo such as grain, clay, aggregates and machinery, has emerged from companies preferring to use smaller Folkestone rather than other larger, more congested cross-Channel ports.

Folkestone has three berths for ships of up to four-metre draught, and the port owners are planning to introduce two further berths to accept larger vessels of six to seven-metre draught.

The development of cargo handling services forms part of the Folkestone Harbour Company's plans to extensively regenerate the port. These include harbour dredging, refurbishment of existing berths, more cargo handling storage space and vehicle standing areas.

Unlike Dover, Folkestone Harbour also has a direct rail link which the company regards as providing further commercial opportunities to attract railfreight cargo traffic, which can be loaded swiftly from rail wagons, arriving directly alongside the ships' berths.

The Port of Folkestone was bought from Sea Containers in August 2004 by the former chairman of Saga Group, Roger De Haan.