Facilitated by the Port of Dover with the support of the Dover District Community Safety Partnership and the Dover Sea Sports Centre, the free event, taking place on July 26, will return with all of the family fun of last year but with some notable additions such as a big vintage car rally and a cutting edge aerobatic display by the world renowned Blades.

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover stated; “We’re delighted to support the Regatta, making the most of our beautiful harbour and providing a great event for the community to enjoy, whilst supporting a local charity.  The event couldn’t take place without the dedication of our enthusiastic partners and the support of the community. After a successful launch last year, we look forward to staging a bigger, more vibrant event this year to provide a fantastic festival of family fun on land and sea at the Port of Dover.”

Back by popular demand will be the ‘Dover Port Dash’ tournament, sponsored by the Port of Dover, which will see teams race across the harbour in ‘Thames Cutters’ pitting their wits against the waves and challenging their fitness in a bid to raise money for local charity, the Cinque Port Pirates. The charity’s aim is to ensure sailing is accessible to all, no matter of ability, cultural, social-economic, racial or religious background they come from, by offering every child low-cost membership and weekly sailing lessons, giving them the opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and experience a wide variety of sea-based activities in a safe environment.

Mr Waggott added; “We are delighted to sponsor the Dover Port Dash for such a worthy beneficiary.”

There are places for 14 adult mixed teams and, for the first time, 14 mixed junior (ages 10-16 years) crews. Teams will comprise six rowers plus a cox.  Entry will be free to the junior teams.  So the call is well and truly out to all aspiring Dashers, to get their teams together, get practicing and get set to join in all the fun!

Also on the water will be paddlesports, sailing tasters, pedalos and more, organised by Dover Sea Sports Centre.  On land there will be demonstrations by Kent Fire and Rescue Service and a range of blue light services as well as community agencies organised by the Dover District Community Safety Partnership as well as a host of stalls offering entertainment and local produce.

Karen Amber, Commodore of the Cinque Ports Pirates, said: ” ‘Sailing isn’t just my hobby mum, its my passion!’ Jarrod, age 12. This comment is just one of the reasons we are so delighted and grateful to the Port of Dover Community Regatta for choosing the Cinque Ports Pirates Sailing Club as the beneficiary of this year’s event. Sailing is traditionally an elitist sport but we believe ALL children should have the opportunity to learn to sail and sail regularly. The money raised from this event will help us get more of Dover’s children on the water; sailing for fun, friendship and fitness on one of the countries most fantastic expanses of water – Dover Harbour. “

Nadeem Aziz, Chairman of the Dover District Community Safety Partnership and Chief Executive of Dover District Council said: “We are looking forward to another successful event on Dover Seafront.  Incorporating the Community Safety Day within the Port Regatta is a great way to create a fun day out for the whole family, and to show the community how the partnership continues to work to keep our district a safe place to live, work and visit.”

Further event details are to be announced in due course but in the meantime please register your interest in taking part in the Dover Port Dash by emailing Alyson Hudson at PODCommunityRegatta.co.uk

ENDS

Issued by External and Corporate Affairs on 01304 240400 (ext 4430 rom 8.30 – 17.00)

Having established strong relationships with TIPC, cemented through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2011, the Port of Dover’s world-class expertise in port management and port development has been showcased both in Taiwan and in the UK.  The contract is a clear recognition of the global reputation that the Port has now achieved as a valuable consultancy partner when requiring a team made up of the best international experts.

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the Port team, its partners, and for the global reputation of the British maritime industry.  Moreover, it gives our staff an incredible platform for career development and reflects the vision that we have for our community in providing new and inspiring opportunities.”

As the consultancy business develops and Dover’s port expertise is required elsewhere as well as still in Dover, this will lead to the creation of high quality jobs at Dover with exciting prospects for all those associated with the Port.  This is a further strand of the Port’s drive for transformation, nurturing talent in Dover that then delivers expertise all around the world with Dover’s name becoming synonymous with opportunity, quality and excellence.  In turn, this will contribute towards inward investment as Dover becomes a hub for maritime expertise, furthering the Port’s ability to act as a catalyst for regeneration.

Beating off stiff competition, the partners also received fantastic support from UKTI (the British Trade & Cultural Office in Taiwan) in promoting British expertise in Taiwan.

Chris Wood, Director, BTCO said: “This is a great boost to Britain’s international reputation in port planning and with such a strong partnership evident between Mott MacDonald, Buchan Group and the Port of Dover, goes to show that with the right expertise and our support, the UK can play a major role in global maritime affairs.”

The contract is focused on carrying out master planning activities for the three Taiwanese ports of Keelung, Kaohsiung and Anping in order to promote the ports’ domestic and international passenger transport and tourism services, including the construction and modernisation of passenger terminal facilities.

Glen Curry, Mott MacDonald said: “This is a very exciting contract to have won and with the specialist skills and experience of the Port of Dover supporting our port planning and engineering expertise, we are confident we can plan great things for Taiwan’s ports.”

The partners will conduct research and analysis on the location and characteristics of Keelung Port, Kaohsiung Port and Anping Port in order to carry out a detailed investiagtion of possible domestic and foreign development projects. They will then produce the final master plan presenting the most appropriate developments, their location and size, configuration and the types of industry suited to the ports.

 ENDS

Issued by Port of Dover External and Corporate Affairs on 01304 240400 (ext 4410 from 8.30 – 17.00)

 Notes to Editors:

•  Further information on TIPC can be found at – http://www.twport.com.tw/sites/English/index.html http://www.twport.com.tw/sites/english/the-company-introduced.html

The current groynes are reaching the end of their life and the Port of Dover wants to ensure that they are replaced with the very best to support the wider waterfront regeneration agenda being pursued for Dover.

From 24th February, work will commence to replace the existing groynes with new rock groynes made of Larvic rock from Norway, one of the most durable types of rock, that will both defend and protect the beach but also create a much more visually appealing beach environment.  Part of the promenade sea wall will also be repaired at the same time.

Jack Goodhew, General Manager – Technical Services, Port of Dover, said: “We were determined to combine our desire to preserve and enhance the beach for the long term with our wider vision of a quality waterfront that is part of reviving Dover as a destination.”

Access to parts of the beach will be limited as the work progresses in order to ensure the safety of everyone.  The Port is currently engaging with all those who live or work on the seafront and interested local organisations on the project in order that they are fully informed about the works.

Mr Goodhew added: “We are starting the work this month in order that it is completed for the Summer season.  The beach is valued greatly by our local community and we want to ensure that it is ready for when the summer holidays begin.”

The Port apologises for any inconvenience that the work may cause as it works to deliver an improved seafront for the benefit of its community.

ENDS

Issued by Port of Dover External and Corporate Affairs on 01304 240400 (ext 4410 from 8.30 – 17.00)

Dover Harbour Board announces today that it will pursue a major opportunity acting as a catalyst for the regeneration of Dover. Discussion on the vision commenced at the Port and Community Forum which was independently chaired.

Having successfully achieved Government approval in 2012 to develop the Western Docks, the Board wishes to seize the opportunity to lock in the many benefits that this could bring just as soon as it possibly can.

By reviewing its masterplan over several months, the team at the Port has identified a significant opportunity to support its customers and the community and provide the game changer for which the people of Dover have been waiting for so long.

Through the early development of the approved consented footprint in the Western Docks, the Port could create over 600 new logistics industry jobs for Dover and safeguard another 140 positions by developing a new cargo terminal.  This would revive the Western Docks, protect long term Port capacity and enable the transformation of the waterfront with the potential creation of a new marina.

Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader, Dover District Council, said: “Delivering major port development that protects long term port capacity but delivers jobs and opportunities now whilst creating a catalyst for major regeneration will be a significant boost to the region and shows real commitment to Dover.”

The Dover Harbour Board’s vision is an evolution of the previous masterplanning proposals and represents a possible way of achieving key benefits of the plan based upon current market conditions and opportunities within the cargo business.  Delivering such a vision would enable the Port to ensure that it has the essential infrastructure in place to serve its customers in the years ahead with the additional opportunity to increase ferry berth capacity in the Eastern Docks through the transfer of the cargo operation to the west.

George Jenkins, Chairman of Dover Harbour Board, said: “Transforming this part of the Port estate can in turn support the wider transformation agenda, one which sees the Port and town working together, which the Port of Dover is also championing through its Dover waterfront regeneration project with Dover District Council.  The people of Dover have waited long enough for Dover’s revival.  That revival could start right now, breathing new life into our Port and into our community.”

Such commitment to major investment, which the Port is already undertaking through its Traffic Management Improvement Project, berth refurbishment/replacement programme and heritage works, will need to be supported and enhanced by increasing the Port’s ability to fund such a massive transformation. 

Peter Jones, Chairman of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The Port of Dover is of national and international significance.  Ensuring that it can develop and grow as a key gateway and enhancing its resilience is vital so that it can continue to support the nation’s economic activity and prosperity in the years to come.  Port development must be seen as part of a wider strategic vision to establish an alternative transport corridor to the midlands and the north through a new Thames Crossing while supporting new town centre investment and community development.”

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said: “The Port is determined to do more for and with its community whilst working with its major customers to achieve mutual success for the benefit of the nation.”

He added: “This opportunity requires the support of everyone to ensure that the Board gets the powers that it needs to deliver for Dover.  We want to work closely with our customers and the community in establishing and driving a shared vision.  Together we can and must make it happen and we begin that journey today.”

Issued on behalf of Port of Dover

For media enquiries relating specifically to this press release, please contact:

• Andrew Metcalf, Maxim 01892 513033, Mob: 07990 574680, or
• Philip Jones, Maxim 01892 513033 Mob: 07990 574690

For all other general media enquiries, please contact the Port of Dover as normal on 01304 240400 (ext 4410 from 8.30 – 17.00)

Alongside the 2,206,728 freight vehicles that were welcomed by the Port, passenger numbers reached 12,753,343, another substantial increase of 7% as the Port’s focus on providing excellent customer service and choice paid dividends.

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said: “Such growth acknowledges the commitment of the Port and its major ferry customers to provide the best cross-Channel product and reflects, come rain or shine – and more recently high winds, the reliability and resilience of Dover in getting people and goods to where they need to be.”

Millions of passengers choosing the UK’s number one cross-Channel gateway will have enjoyed the benefits of free Wifi and the Port’s on-going customer service training programme, as well as being witnesses to the major infrastructure works that continue to improve Europe’s busiest ferry port for their journeys of the future.

Mr Waggott added: “My congratulations to our ferry partners and my thanks to all of our customers who entrusted us with their international travel last year.  We will work hard in order to build on that trust as we create the best port in the world.”

ENDS 

Issued by Port of Dover External and Corporate Affairs on 01304 240400 (ext 4410 from 8.30 – 17.00)