| Dover building bridges for cruising

THE port of Dover in England’s east will continue its transformation into a major cruise hub, with a new boarding system (pictured) to be installed at Cruise Terminal 1.

A new accessible boarding bridge is expected to be in operation by the 2027 season, allowing for a more seamless boarding process.

The latest upgrade comes two months after Dover announced plans to cater to cruise ships up to 350 metres long on the back of new mooring infrastructure.

Port of Dover Head of Cruise Peter Wright said he is excited to see such a major change coming to the port only a year after the facility unveiled its long-term Master Plan through to 2050.

“Expanding our cruise capacity is central to that vision, and this latest step on the journey will deliver a much-improved experience for guests,” he said.

The cruise line is already taking note of Dover’s intentions, with Holland America recently returning to the UK with Nieuw Statendam currently sailing itineraries to the British Isles, Scandinavia and Northern Europe from the port (CW 05 May).

Once operational, the new bridge will see Dover able to cater to larger ships, putting it on par with Southampton.

Mobility firm TK Elevator has been tasked with designing and installing the new bridge. MS