Sea ports ranked by ferry passenger movements in the United Kingdom (UK) 2020
Dover was the busiest international port in the United Kingdom in 2020, recording close to 4.4 million ferry passenger movements on short-sea routes at the south-eastern ferry port. As the UK harbor is closest to the European mainland, it is unsurprising that Dover has become the country’s principal seaport. All the UK ports recorded a significant decline in passenger movements in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dover – Calais busiest travel route
The most common sea travel route was between Dover and Calais, which accounted for roughly 78 percent of all passenger movement to and from the English ferry port. This was followed by travel between Dover and another French location, Dunkirk.
Channel Tunnel usage becoming more popular
The number of passengers using short sea routes for travelling internationally declined with the introduction of the Channel Tunnel in 1994. Tunnel usage overtook travel via ferry in three different instances in the past six years.
Dover – Calais busiest travel route
The most common sea travel route was between Dover and Calais, which accounted for roughly 78 percent of all passenger movement to and from the English ferry port. This was followed by travel between Dover and another French location, Dunkirk.
Channel Tunnel usage becoming more popular
The number of passengers using short sea routes for travelling internationally declined with the introduction of the Channel Tunnel in 1994. Tunnel usage overtook travel via ferry in three different instances in the past six years.
