P&O Hull-Rotterdam ferry; Disembarkation info since EES?

[quarryman111]

Has anyone travelled by car to Rotterdam since EES was introduced in mid-October?
I’m trying to get a feel for how long transit through border control will take now that our biometric data will be taken/registered for the first time, pls?
(STD UK passport-holders)

Edited by quarryman111 on Monday 1st December 18:28

Edited by quarryman111 on Monday 1st December 18:30

[Jamescrs]

Yes I travelled over on the 31st October, they weren't doing the EES process at that point, standard passport checks and stamps applied.

If you have been that route before you will know the standard border check booths, now they have put what I can best describe as a photo booth directly in front of each of those border check booths where I imagine people will be required to have their fingerprints etc done but they were devoid of any equipment when I went through.

Otherwise its the usual long queue that it always is at Rotterdam, though I suspect will be quieter at this time of year.

It would make sense to me to have the facility on the ferries that run the crossing to do it onboard the ship but I don't know how practical that would be.

[quarryman111]

Thanks; sounds like it’ll be pot luck then! As you say, at least it should be a bit quieter…we’re travelling in a couple of weeks on a Tuesday.

[Jamescrs]

quarryman111 said:

Thanks; sounds like it ll be pot luck then! As you say, at least it should be a bit quieter we re travelling in a couple of weeks on a Tuesday.

As an aside I don't know if you know but the car loading ramp at Hull is broken, has been for over 12 months now and as a result all cars are loading and unloading via the Lorry entrance instead and going up a couple of very steep ramps to get to the car floor (level 7). If you have a particularly low car it's an issue.

[cliffords]

I have gone in and out UK recently a couple of times by air. Both times there was no opportunity to do this UK side . There was in destination airport on return,but both times the machines could not carry out the process. November trips.

[200Plus Club]

Jamescrs said:

As an aside I don't know if you know but the car loading ramp at Hull is broken, has been for over 12 months now and as a result all cars are loading and unloading via the Lorry entrance instead and going up a couple of very steep ramps to get to the car floor (level 7). If you have a particularly low car it's an issue.

Was gonna mention same, absolute nightmare if you've a wide sporty car, quite stressful.
I'd heard recently there was finally a plan to resolve it but not heard its been done as yet?

[Dog Star]

200Plus Club said:

Jamescrs said:

As an aside I don't know if you know but the car loading ramp at Hull is broken, has been for over 12 months now and as a result all cars are loading and unloading via the Lorry entrance instead and going up a couple of very steep ramps to get to the car floor (level 7). If you have a particularly low car it's an issue.

Was gonna mention same, absolute nightmare if you've a wide sporty car, quite stressful.
I'd heard recently there was finally a plan to resolve it but not heard its been done as yet?

This has been going on for well over 12 months - absolutely ridiculous. I can only think that someone just doesn’t want to spend the money on fixing it.

It’s my favourite crossing route but I have to say that I’m getting more than a bit pissed off with the queues at the Rotterdam end for both arrivals and departures. The last few years have been atrocious - I wonder if I could just say “stuff it” and go via Dover.

[psi310398]

I can’t help with Rotterdam but I did Harwich-Hook a couple of weeks ago. At Passport Control we were asked to go into a booth and have our retinas? and fingerprints scanned, then the passports were stamped.

With the knock on impact of the queuing in front of us I’d guess about twenty minutes longer than usual.

[quarryman111]

An update from this morning….
Firstly good news, the Hull car-loading ramp is now back in service!
At Rotterdam each of the 4 border-post lanes has a photo/fingerprint booth adjacent, operated by the officer. It probably took just a minute or so each longer for my wife and I to exit car, get bio’d and return, all whilst the officer was assisting/viewing and stamping our passports!

[Dog Star]

quarryman111 said:

An update from this morning .
Firstly good news, the Hull car-loading ramp is now back in service!
At Rotterdam each of the 4 border-post lanes has a photo/fingerprint booth adjacent, operated by the officer. It probably took just a minute or so each longer for my wife and I to exit car, get bio d and return, all whilst the officer was assisting/viewing and stamping our passports!

Thanks for the update - that is good news

[200Plus Club]

quarryman111 said:

An update from this morning .
Firstly good news, the Hull car-loading ramp is now back in service!
At Rotterdam each of the 4 border-post lanes has a photo/fingerprint booth adjacent, operated by the officer. It probably took just a minute or so each longer for my wife and I to exit car, get bio d and return, all whilst the officer was assisting/viewing and stamping our passports!

That's great news as off to Europe again in 2026

[Jamescrs]

quarryman111 said:

An update from this morning .
Firstly good news, the Hull car-loading ramp is now back in service!
At Rotterdam each of the 4 border-post lanes has a photo/fingerprint booth adjacent, operated by the officer. It probably took just a minute or so each longer for my wife and I to exit car, get bio d and return, all whilst the officer was assisting/viewing and stamping our passports!

Thanks for updating the thread, im on the crossing again in May so a bit of a wait now and plenty of time for the loading ramp to break again.