A leading director at P&O Ferries has voiced concerns over the impending implementation of the new EU border IT system, known as the Entry Exit System (ESS), arguing for a further delay to avoid potential delays at UK terminals. The system, which mandates that individuals entering the EU register their fingerprints, photographs, and passport details, is set to roll out in October this year after already experiencing several postponements from its original 2022 schedule.
Jack Steer, P&O Ferries’ Director of Port Operations, conveyed his apprehensions to the European Scrutiny Committee, expressing doubts over the readiness for the October implementation timeline. Steer proposed the possibility of using an app for completing the requisite checks but identified existing EU legislation as a barrier to this digital solution.
Warnings have been issued by the Port of Dover and various ferry companies about the “serious and lasting impacts” on communities, businesses, and authorities due to increased registration times. Steer elaborated on potential operational slowdowns, imagining scenarios where ferry passengers would need to input their details on a tablet while in their vehicle, inevitably prolonging the check-in process.
Supporting Steer’s sentiments, Jesper Christensen, Director of Operations on the Channel at DFDS, emphasised the importance of moving checks “upstream” and raised concerns over the adequacy of border force personnel during peak times. Similarly, Nichola Mallon, Head of Trade & Devolved Policy at Logistics UK, underscored the necessity for a digital solution. Mallon highlighted that while an app is being developed within the European Union for such purposes before travel to an EU border, its launch is not expected until the summer of 2025.
The consensus among industry leaders points towards a readiness for a digital solution to streamline the entry process into the EU, albeit hindered by legislative and practical readiness challenges. As discussions continue, the sectors affected are calling for legislative adjustments and pragmatic approaches to implement the ESS in a manner that minimizes disruptions and maintains efficient cross-channel operations.
