The lead up to Brexit is going to chaotic for the United Kingdom for a number of reasons, but the biggest chaos will probably be seen at the country’s ports which help the country in importing products that keep the wheels of the country running. The country’s busiest port is at Dover, which acts as a point of entry for billions of pounds worth of important every year and its head has now warned travelers that they should brace for disruptions if they plan to get to mainland Europe in the day leading up to Brexit. The Port of Dover is responsible for taking care of 17% of the total annual goods trade in the UK, and the sum total of the trade is worth around £120 billion. However, tourists pass through the port as well on their way to mainland Europe and on an average; 2.3 million cars pass through the port annually.
The UK is scheduled to leave the European Union on the 29th of March, and although the government has asked for an extension, the port authorities are not leaving anything to chance. The holidays of many of the workers in the port have been canceled, and it is believed people are going to work round the clock to ensure that there is no disruption to the supply of essential items to the country. While speaking about the disruption for travellers during such a busy time, the chief executive of Dover Harbour Board, Doug Bannister said,
If it takes an additional two minutes to process a vehicle, that could lead to a 17-mile queue, If anybody who is planning a trip to Dover knows exactly what’s going to happen on the 29th, there are a few million people who would appreciate that knowledge.
The real fear lies in the possibility of a no deal Brexit, and if that happens then, the country could plunge into an economic disaster overnight. Products starting from fruits and vegetables to medicines could all of a sudden not be available, and that is one of the reasons why there was talk that the UK supermarkets might need to resort to stockpiling in order to avoid a food shortage in the event of a no deal Brexit. Although Prime Minister Theresa May has asked for an extension, it remains to be seen what transpires over the next week or so.
