Thanks for the question, lorddyson.
No, the Queen doesn't own these ports.
The Port of Dover is publicly owned, and under the control of the
Dover Harbour Board. This is a Port Trust with many of the trustees
appointed by the UK Government's Department of Transport.
The Ports of Calais and Boulogne are also in public ownership. Calais
is run by the Calais Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Boulogne by
Boulogne-sur-Mer Côte d?Opale Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Each
one is a "port d'intérêt national", a national port run locally but
overseen by the French Government.
Since 1986 Hoverspeed has been owned by Sea Containers Ltd., a company
based in Bermuda whose shareholders are mostly from the USA.
Your question reminds me that Dover is one of the "Cinque Ports", a
group of Channel ports with a long history and a royal connection.
If you want to know more about this, see this website:
http://www.cinqueports.org/
These are the sources I used:
Port of Dover
"As a trust port, the Board does not have any shareholders and most
Board members are appointed by the Department of Transport."
http://www.doverport.co.uk/portofdover/companyinformation/about_us.htm
More on UK Trust Ports
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_shipping/documents/page/dft_shipping_505263.hcsp
"The Calais Chamber of Commerce and Industry which is responsible for
the management and operation of the Port facilities . . "
http://www.calais-port.com/communiques/ndefaultuk.html
"The Port is managed by the Boulogne-sur-Mer Côte d?Opale Chamber of
Commerce and Industry who continue to provide the necessary investment
for the future by means of the Region-State contract plan. "
http://www.portboulogne.com/en/
The French Channel ports marked in red on this map are "national" ports:
http://www.port.fr/manche/index.html
Document discussing French ports
http://www.ccomptes.fr/Cour-des-comptes/publications/rapports/politique-portuaire/pportuaire6.htm
"Sea Containers Ltd is a Bermuda company with operating subsidiaries
in London, Genoa, New York, Rio de Janeiro and Sydney. It is owned
primarily by U.S. shareholders and its common shares are listed on the
New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbols SCRA and SCRB. The
company is engaged in three main activities: passenger and freight
transport, marine container leasing and leisure-based operations.
Within each segment a number of operating units. Passenger transport
consists of fast ferry operations in the English Channel under the
name Hoverspeed Ltd. . . . "
://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cache:oXc2YgV-0E4J:download.microsoft.com/documents/uk/press/product/dotnet/downloads/Sea_Containers_press_release.doc+%22sea+containers+ltd%22+shareholders&hl=en
Sea Containers Ltd.
http://www.seacontainers.com/fr_passenger.asp
I hope this provides you with all the information you need, but please
feel free to ask if you have a query about any part of my answer.
Best Wishes - Leli
Searches
Dover port
trust ports
Calais port
Boulogne port
ports site:fr
"port d'intérêt national"
Hoverspeed "Sea Containers"
"Sea containers" owned shareholders
"cinque ports" |
