University of Manchester and Dover Harbour Board KTP 23_24 R5

The Port of Dover is building a digital twin—a virtual replica of the harbour—that uses artificial intelligence to simulate tidal flows and ship movements in real time. This matters because Dover is one of the world’s busiest passenger ports, handling millions of ferry passengers and billions of pounds in trade each year. Currently, port operators rely on experience and static models to make decisions about safe navigation, berth allocation, and infrastructure upgrades. These methods cannot easily account for the complex, shifting interactions between tides, weather, vessel traffic, and future demand. The digital twin fills that gap by providing a dynamic, data-driven simulation that can test scenarios—such as how a new berth or a storm surge would affect operations—before committing to real-world changes. If the project succeeds, the port could reduce delays, improve safety for large vessels navigating narrow channels, and make smarter investment decisions about infrastructure. The same approach could later be applied to other busy ports, quietly keeping supply chains and ferry routes running smoothly. This is applied engineering research with a clear practical goal: embedding an AI tool directly into port operations to support long-term strategic growth.