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  Hi Howard, indeed, reduction in the number of vessel calls has come in part due to larger vessels deployed. I had already highlighted the anticipated reduction in the number of vessel calls even before the incorporation of DPPT.
  
  Traffic levels at Dover are 545,000 vehicles lower today than they were in 1997. Since 2009 the number amount of traffic moving via Kent to continental Europe has risen consistently, 2010 saw near 5% market growth and 2011 just under 4% market growth. Dover however continued to show negative growth throughout the period 2007-2011. Ferry Company forecasts, UK and continental haulier forecasts in aggregate indicate at best flat traffic levels through Dover alone in 2012 and 2013 with between 3 and 4% growth at Dover alone in 2014. This compares to overall market growth forecasts ex Kent to near continent of 3.8% in 2012, 4.5% in 2013 and just over 6% in 2014.
  
  In short, yes, Dover will return to growth, but it will take a long time to recover even to 2005 traffic and vessel call volumes and in the meantime we have to ensure that as much of the port as possible is used for profitable economic activity and manage traffic to/from the port more effectively in order to reduce the adverse impact on the town. This means reviewing and modifying the Masterplan to deliver 'growth without gridlock' (sorry, just borrowing a phrase from a KCC report).
  
  I have been through all of this in some detail on previous threads and postings.

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