It is one of the principal ports for passenger communications across the
Channel, steamers connecting it with Calais and Ostend. The Admiralty
pier was begun in 1847 and practically completed to a length of about
2000 ft. in 1871. In 1888 the gates of Wellington dock were widened to
admit a larger type of Channel steamers; new coal stores were erected on
the Northampton quay; the slipway was lengthened 40 ft., and widened for
the reception of vessels up to 800 tons. In 1891 it was resolved to
construct a new commercial harbour at an estimated cost of about
L700,000. Begun in 1893, the works included the construction of an east
pier ("Prince of Wales's Pier"), running parallel to the general
direction of the Admiralty pier and in conjunction with it enclosing an
area of sheltered water amounting to seventy-five acres. This pier was
completed in 1902. A railway line connected with the South-Eastern and
Chatham system runs to its head, and in July 1903 it was brought into
use for the embarcation of passengers by transatlantic liners. In 1896
and subsequent years funds were voted by parliament for the construction
of an artificial harbour for naval purposes, having an area of 610
acres, of which 322 acres were to have a depth of not less than 30 ft.
at low water. The scheme comprised three enclosing breakwaters--on the
west an extension of the Admiralty pier in a south-easterly direction
for a length of 2000 ft.; on the south an isolated breakwater, 4200 ft.
long, curving round shoreward at its eastern end to accord with the
direction of the third breakwater; on the east, which runs out from the
shore in a southerly direction for a length of 3320 ft. These three
breakwaters, with a united length of rather more than 1-3/4 m., are each
built of massive concrete blocks in the form of a practically vertical
wall founded on the solid chalk and rising to a quay level of 10 ft.
above high water. Two entrances, one 800 ft. and the other 600 ft. in
width, with a depth of about seven fathoms at low water, are situated at
either end of the detached breakwater. The plan also included the
reclamation of the foreshore at the foot of the cliffs, between the
castle jetty and the root of the eastern breakwater, by means of a
massive sea-wall. The construction of three powerful forts was
undertaken in defence of the harbour, which was opened in 1909.

Besides the mail service and harbour trade, Dover has a trade in
shipbuilding, timber, rope