EES system, new today in Dover

[Black Forest]

Morning all,

I'm travelling Germany - Lincolnshire via Dover on Thursday morning and back again on Sunday. Quite a lot of chatter about the EES system which has started including photographs/fingerprints and a possible 4hr delay boarding the ferry....

Any members been across and gone through this and can share how it works or any info about this?

I'm on a UK passport with a resident card and a German registered vehicle...

 

[Black Forest]

Quick update.
I came through this morning on the 02:30 Calais - Dover. French and British checks in Calais, passport only. No fuss. The lady in the UK booth didn't know anything about the ESS system at Dover, she only worked the French side....
I'll update again on the way back Dover - Dunkirk, Sunday

 

[The Tall Luthier]

The system is being tested at the moment as opposed to being fully implemented.
I imagine, if I were running the system, I would want a combination of low throughput and low staff costs before I tried again. Night shifts or peak hours would just be expensive/chaotic.

 

[Daveb999]

Handy to know as I will be using the ferry next week.

 

[Paul_D]

We arrived in Roscoff Wednesday morning and friends the same day in Caen. Neither were using the new EES despite reading at the weekend that they would be getting 1 in 10 arrivals to trial an in car pad based system….

 

[Van Diesel VW]

Link to Port of Dover press release.

Port Of Dover Is Ready For The Phased Introduction Of EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

The Port of Dover has prepared for the launch of the new European Union Entry/Exit System (EES), which will come into effect this Sunday (October 12th, 2025).

www.portofdover.com

Looks like initially coach and foot passengers in October and then all traffic from November time.

 

[Black Forest]

Last EES update.
Back through Dover yesterday one week after EES went live. Straight through, no photos no fingerprints. Passport checks in Dover, nothing in Calais.

I'm struggling to see how it will work with individual vehicles at the port or Chunnel, without causing a massive disruption.. We will see...

Heavy police presence on the French autoroute with police checking cars after the toll station. Seems to have been focussed on Swiss and "other east European" cars. Germans / French not stopped.

EDIT: May be connected with the Louvre thefts I've just read about on the BBC

Anyway, home now after 1300 kms yesterday. North lincs > Germany Black Forest near Basel. Cali was a good place to be, radar cruise control a real bonus and not too thirsty at motorway limits and staying away from the second turbo.

 

[NickFoster]

Came through Dover - Calais on 15 Oct. No changes to normal passport checks. But I did notice a fingerprint machine in the French passport booth, but not in use.

 

[Daveb999]

Went through customs today from Dover. Campervan were taken to one said with most being searched. Looked like most cars were also being searched but much more light touch.

 

[Betsycalifornia]

Coquelles to uk via Le shuttle today, business as usual. No sign of using EES yet. Phew.

 

[Anthony1]

Morning all,

I'm travelling Germany - Lincolnshire via Dover on Thursday morning and back again on Sunday. Quite a lot of chatter about the EES system which has started including photographs/fingerprints and a possible 4hr delay boarding the ferry....

Any members been across and gone through this and can share how it works or any info about this?

I'm on a UK passport with a resident card and a German registered vehicle...

Best arrive by boat from Libya, no documents of any kind required.