An IT failure on French border-control systems at the Port of Dover created queues of up to an hour on 20 December as nearly 30,000 cars began the Christmas getaway. Although Dover lies in England, the disruption matters to Irish businesses that move freight to continental Europe via the UK land-bridge and to passengers connecting from Dublin-Holyhead sailings.
Ferry operator P&O reported long approach-road queues but said check-in itself ran smoothly once vehicles reached the terminal. The port urged customers not to arrive more than two hours before sailing and asked drivers to stay on main routes to keep local roads clear. By 20:00 queues had largely dissipated, yet the incident underscores system fragility at a time when record volumes are expected.
Irish logistics firms have increasingly diversified to direct Ro-Ro services from Rosslare and Cork, but time-sensitive consignments—especially pharma and fresh food—still use Dover for its higher sailing frequency. An Post also warned that parcel backlogs could build if further glitches occur over the holiday period.
![IT outage at Port of Dover generates ferry delays ahead of Irish holiday traffic]()
For Irish travellers and companies that suddenly need to reroute via France or other continental ports, VisaHQ can fast-track any required visas or travel documents and provide real-time entry guidance. Its Dublin portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) lets drivers, couriers, and business passengers check requirements and submit applications in minutes—handy if a late switch to Rosslare-Cherbourg or Cork-Roscoff sailings becomes the best option.
Mobility managers with assignees driving rental cars from Ireland through the UK to mainland Europe should monitor live updates from Port of Dover Travel and prepare contingency bookings on direct Ireland–France routes should delays stretch beyond two hours.
The port authority said a post-incident review with French counterparts will seek to prevent a repeat during the New Year peak.
Ferry operator P&O reported long approach-road queues but said check-in itself ran smoothly once vehicles reached the terminal. The port urged customers not to arrive more than two hours before sailing and asked drivers to stay on main routes to keep local roads clear. By 20:00 queues had largely dissipated, yet the incident underscores system fragility at a time when record volumes are expected.
Irish logistics firms have increasingly diversified to direct Ro-Ro services from Rosslare and Cork, but time-sensitive consignments—especially pharma and fresh food—still use Dover for its higher sailing frequency. An Post also warned that parcel backlogs could build if further glitches occur over the holiday period.
For Irish travellers and companies that suddenly need to reroute via France or other continental ports, VisaHQ can fast-track any required visas or travel documents and provide real-time entry guidance. Its Dublin portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) lets drivers, couriers, and business passengers check requirements and submit applications in minutes—handy if a late switch to Rosslare-Cherbourg or Cork-Roscoff sailings becomes the best option.
Mobility managers with assignees driving rental cars from Ireland through the UK to mainland Europe should monitor live updates from Port of Dover Travel and prepare contingency bookings on direct Ireland–France routes should delays stretch beyond two hours.
The port authority said a post-incident review with French counterparts will seek to prevent a repeat during the New Year peak.
