[Photo courtesy of Mathias Koch]
Dover’s Eastern and Western Docks form some of the most historic parts of the town. Harbour Shipping has been proud to be a part of that history at the Eastern Docks for over 40 years and at the Western Docks for 23 years.
Lord Warden House
As part of Harbour’s expansion back in 2002, our Customs Clearance team moved to offices inside the majestic Lord Warden House at Dover Western Docks. This building originally opened back in 1852 as the luxury Lord Warden Hotel for VIPs travelling between England the Continent. In 1939 it became a wartime Royal Navy HQ before becoming offices.
Harbour Shipping Offices
Harbour’s Customs Clearance team has occupied our main office on the ground floor since 2002, complete with our welcoming front counter and Bureau de Change service. Over the years we have also expanded into two other offices on the ground floor and 1st floor to accommodate our Deep Sea team and our growing Road Freight team.
We operate around-the-clock 52 weeks a year so the location has had many advantages, being among the freight lorry parks and offices for HGVs entering and leaving the UK. Freight drivers have been able to report to our front counter to finalise import and export paperwork like T1s and EUR1s. Over the years we have enjoyed other benefits like the views of Shakespeare Cliff and Beach and of the sunsets.
Of course there have been some downsides. The traffic has been bad at times of disruption and during the peak holiday season; and the air quality isn’t always good. The offices are historic but rather dated. Howling gales can blow for hours or even days straight off the English Channel.
All Change
Time never stands still however and the past few years have brought considerable changes to customs clearance in terms of both technology and processes. This means there is less and less need for drivers to stop for paperwork purposes at Dover. The Inland Border Facility has been moved from the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel themselves to Sevington at Ashford. As drivers use less cash, too, there is less demand for a Bureau de Change; a facility that has proved its worth over the years.
Embracing the Future
Whilst we are proud of the history, Harbour Shipping always takes a cleared-eyed strategic view of the future. We believe new technology and new processes mean new opportunities to serve our customers better. So since 2023 we’ve been planning and building the foundation to do just that.
The result is that in 2025 we move to our new purpose-built headquarters in Dover where all our teams can work together in state-of-the-art offices. We continue to operate around-the-clock and we’re able to serve our clients in better facilities with fewer interruptions. We’re looking forward to making history in Dover in the next 40 years as we have done in the last 40 years.
Get in Touch
Our track record of 40 years of skill and experience means Harbour Shipping can help your business move freight around Europe and the rest of the World. So whatever reason you’re shipping goods to or from the UK it makes sense to get in touch with us.
Use the contact form here
Phone +44 (0) 1304 211919
Email: [email protected]