The arrival window for coaches at the Port of Dover is to be extended for selected dates at Easter, while the authority has also called for better compliance with correct MOANA procedure.
In anticipation of busy periods on 26, 27 and 28 March and 3 and 10 April, the Port says coaches can arrive up to three hours before departure on these dates rather than the usual two hours.
It is also in discussion with the French authorities over a possible extension over Easter of the MOANA trial for school groups.
Under that streamlined border control system, traveller information is submitted in advance by tour organisers.
However, when it was last used at half-term this month, only 24% of the 221 forms were completed correctly, Port officials are highlighting. Having identified the following most common issues, it is asking school groups to avoid repeating them at Easter:
- MOANA lists not received within the required timeframe (PAF (Police aux Frontières) require at least 96 hours to process them)
- No MOANA poster displayed in the coach window
- Pupils listed but not travelling on the corresponding vehicle
- School names are missing from the lists
- Incomplete vehicle and driver information
The Port stresses coaches should arrive no more than three hours before their scheduled departure on the abovementioned dates and that early arrivals will be triaged and asked to return later.
Coaches will be divided into queues for EU, non-EU and school groups.
Passengers are also reminded to have passports ready before disembarking to minimise further delays.
The Port of Dover says that the roll-out of the new EU Entry/Exit System is adding to processing times but it will “continue to work closely with PAF to ensure the smoothest transition possible”.
The MOANA system, which was first piloted in April 2025, is speeding up processing, P&O Ferries reported in January.
