The Busiest Passenger Ports In Europe

Europe has one of the most developed marine transport infrastructures in the world, with the continent being an important destination for foreign trade. European ports handle huge numbers of passengers each year, and the numbers seem to be growing every year with some of the ports handling millions of passengers annually.

Port Of Dover

The Port of Dover is a seaport located in the town of Dover in Kent, England. The port is one of the oldest functioning ports in the country, having been opened in 1606 by King James I. With annual passengers averaging at 13.1 million, Port Dover is the busiest port in the world based on passengers. The enormous number of passengers is attributed to the port’s location. Port Dover is the English port located nearest to France with a distance of only 21 miles. The port is run by the Dover Harbor Board who collects an annual turnover of over $50 million from the port. Port Dover features two sections the Western Dock and the Eastern Docks. The port is also served by a network of roads and railway.

Port Of Helsinki

The Port of Helsinki is located in the city of Helsinki, Finland. It is the main port and the busiest in the country and the second busiest in Europe with annual passenger numbers reaching about 11.2 million. The Port of Helsinki serves as a strategic gateway for foreign trade with the majority of traffic come from routes connecting Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Rostock, Travemunde, and Gdynia. The port is served by three harbors which are the West Harbor, the South Harbor, and the Vuosaari Harbor. The West and South Harbors are used for passenger traffic while Vuosaari Harbor is used for handling cargo.

Port Of Stockholm

The Port of Stockholm is the main port of Sweden. The port is the busiest in the country and the third busiest in Europe based on passenger traffic with passenger numbers reaching about 9.9 million annually. The Port of Stockholm is comprised of two ports - the Port of Nynashamn, which is located in the south and has three berths, and The Port of Kapellskar which is located in the southern part of the Port of Stockholm and has five berths.

Port Of Calais

The Port of Calais is a French port located in the town of Calais in the northern part of the country. Port of Calais is the fourth largest in the country but is the busiest in passenger traffic. With annual passengers standing at 9.8 million, The Port of Calais is the fourth busiest in Europe. The port also plays a significant role in the economy of the town, contributing a third of all economic activity in Calais. The port is served by a vibrant network of roads and railways.

The Port Of Tallinn

The Port of Tallinn is located in the city of Tallinn in Estonia. The port is the biggest and the busiest in the country and is also the fifth busiest in Europe, handling about 9.3 million passengers per year. The Port of Tallinn is made up of four harbors including the Old City Harbor, Muuga Harbor, Paljassaare Harbor, Saaremaa Harbor, and Paldiski Harbor.

Future Of Ports

Marine transport in Europe is growing in leaps and bounds with passenger numbers seeing a dramatic increase. Massive expansion plans are underway on several ports all over Europe to accommodate this growth in passenger numbers.