Accredited official statistics

Sea passenger statistics: notes and definitions

Published 30 July 2025

The number of cruise passengers in 2019, 2022 and 2023 has been revised due to an over-estimation of passengers at Southampton for these years. The trends are not affected.

These statistics present all sea passenger movements to and from the UK on both domestic and international routes. 

The statistics support the work of the DfT Maritime Directorate, including the Security and Resilience Programme. They also support the Office of National Statistics (ONS) International Passenger Survey. 

Short sea, long sea and cruise data are collected under the Statistical Returns Carriage of Goods and Passengers by Sea) Regulation 1997 SI 1997 No: 2330 covering the carriage of goods and passengers by sea. 

Publication information 

Sea passenger statistics: all routes

This statistical release is published in July following the calendar year end to which the data relates and includes: 

  • international long sea routes 

  • international cruises 

  • domestic short sea minor routes 

  • domestic river crossings 

  • domestic inter-island routes 

  • domestic cruises 

Provisional international short sea passenger figures are published 6 weeks after the month end to which the data relates. 

All sea passenger statistics are published through the maritime and shipping series

Definitions 

International sea passengers are defined as passengers travelling on: 

Short sea routes: all ferry routes between Great Britain or Northern Ireland and the rest of Europe. 

Long sea routes: all one-way scheduled voyages to and from ports outside Europe and the Mediterranean. Passengers travelling on cargo vessels (one-way) are not included. 

Cruises: includes all passengers on international cruise journeys who embark or disembark their cruise journey at a UK port. Cruise passengers are included at both departure and arrival if their journey begins and ends at a UK seaport. Passengers passing through on transit calls are not included in these figures. 

Domestic sea passengers are defined as passengers travelling on: 

Short sea routes: these can be major or minor routes 

Inter-island routes: routes between the mainland and UK islands, such as Isle of Skye and the Isle of Wight. Also included are internal ferry routes on lochs such as Strangford to Portaferry in Northern Ireland. 

River ferries: inland waterway routes with over 500 passenger kilometres on vessels of over 100 gross tonnes, travelling distances greater than 500 metres on a single ferry. 

Domestic cruises: Domestic cruise passenger figures include all passengers on domestic cruises in the UK (no cruise stops at foreign ports). These figures can be found in table SPAS0201. Large domestic cruises did not previously occur but were a feature in 2021 when they were permitted under the domestic roadmap for England. This was the first stage of the wider restart of cruise following the industry’s pause during the coronavirus pandemic, with international cruises restarting from August 2021. 

Short sea routes can either be: 

Major routes: routes between Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, the Channel Islands. 

Minor routes: all other short sea routes, including routes between Great Britain and the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

Collection and methodology 

Short sea passengers 

Data is collected from ferry operators for vessels over 100 gross tonnes, and validated on a monthly basis. Passengers counted include drivers of lorries, coaches and other vehicles and their passengers. At the end of the reference year, the annual data is validated for a final time for publication. 

The monthly short sea collection is a statutory return collected under the Statistical Returns Carriage of Goods and Passengers by Sea Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 2330)

International passenger numbers collected include passengers on routes beginning or ending in Great Britain or Norther Ireland. Routes with foreign countries beginning or ending in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man are not included. 

Some passengers used to travel between Great Britain and St Malo in France by going to the Channel Islands on one vessel and then transferring to another. Prior to 2016, where these passengers could be distinguished from other traffic, they were subtracted from the domestic route with the Channel Islands and added to the direct international route between Great Britain and France. From 2016 onwards, these passenger numbers were attributed to the domestic route with the Channel Islands rather than the direct international route. The main routes affected were the Poole to St Malo route and the Weymouth to St Malo route. In recent years, these routes accounted for less than 0.1% of the total international short sea traffic and received no passengers in 2024. 

Inter-island ferry passengers 

Data from crossings between the Channel Islands is collected and validated as part of the monthly short sea passenger collection, described above. 

Data for crossings to Orkney and Shetland and Scottish inter-island routes is annually supplied by the Scottish Government. These data sets are checked in detail by the Department for Transport statisticians and considered to be very robust. Occasionally, data is revised in response to further information being submitted later in the year. 

Some of the routes provided by the Scottish Government are not included in the final database as they do not meet the set criteria. For example, information relating to the Appin to Lismore route and the Camusnagaul to Fort William is not included as the vessels used are under 100 gross tonnes. 

International cruise, domestic cruise and long sea passengers 

Data is supplied by operators, typically on annual basis and is regularly reviewed. 

Occasionally, a small amount of data is imputed where operators do not provide returns. The data are considered to be fit for purpose- comparison with industry figures show similar trends although the annual totals can differ. 

Long sea passenger numbers can fluctuate greatly over time, in part because operators can use these trips to reposition vessels around the world as needed. Data supplied by operators are compared against ship schedules to ensure long sea voyages are not incorrectly entered as cruise voyages, and vice versa. 

River ferry passengers 

Data is collected annually from operators and council government sources. 

Data is only collected on inland waterway routes with over 500 passenger kilometres on vessels over 100 gross tonnes, travelling distances greater than 500 metres in a single ferry. 

Although there have been occasional changes in operator reporting methods, the data are considered to be fit for purpose. 

These routes are not covered by the legal requirement to provide data on passengers on sea crossing routes. Operators are not legally required to provide us with this data. 

Every 5 years, the ‘non-survey’ routes are updated. These are only used to calculate passenger kilometres and are not part of the normal collection or outputs. 

Occasionally, data is imputed where operators do not provide returns. This imputation is based on the missing company’s previous data and is ensured to be in line with the overall expected trend.  

Route coverage 

Routes collected and included in our current statistics are outlined in the tables below. These routes have carried over 1,000 passengers in 2024.  

International short sea routes 

UK Port               to   International Port
Dover                 to   Calais            
Dover                 to   Dunkirk           
Felixstowe            to   Vlaardingen       
Fishguard             to   Rosslare          
Grimsby and Immingham to   Hook of Holland   
Harwich               to   Hook of Holland   
Harwich               to   Rotterdam         
Holyhead              to   Dublin            
Hull                  to   Rotterdam         
Grimsby and Immingham to   Cuxhaven          
Grimsby and Immingham to   Esbjerg           
Grimsby and Immingham to   Gothenburg        
Grimsby and Immingham to   Rotterdam         
Grimsby and Immingham to   Vlaardingen       
Liverpool             to   Dublin            
London                to   Zeebrugge         
Milford Haven         to   Rosslare         
Newhaven              to   Dieppe            
Plymouth              to   Roscoff           
Plymouth              to   Santander         
Poole                 to   Cherbourg         
Portsmouth            to   Bilbao            
Portsmouth            to   Caen              
Portsmouth            to   Cherbourg         
Portsmouth            to   Le Havre          
Portsmouth            to   Santander         
Portsmouth            to   St Malo           
Tyne                  to   Ijmuiden          

Domestic short sea routes 

Port 1      Direction Port 2                                             
Aberdeen    to        Kirkwall                                              
Aberdeen    to        Lerwick                                               
Belfast     to        Douglas, Isle of Man                                  
Cairnryan   to        Belfast                                               
Cairnryan   to        Larne                                                 
Gills Bay   to        St Margaret’s Hope                                    
Heysham     to        Belfast                                               
Heysham     to        Douglas, Isle of Man                                  
Heysham     to        Warrenpoint                                           
Lerwick     to        Kirkwall                                              
Liverpool   to        Belfast                                               
Liverpool   to        Douglas, Isle of Man                                  
Penzance    to        Hugh Town                                             
Poole       to        St Helier, Jersey                                     
Poole       to        St Peter Port, Guernsey                               
Portsmouth  to        St Helier, Jersey                                     
Portsmouth  to        St Peter Port, Guernsey                               
Scrabster   to        Stromness                                             
Waverley Cruises to   Various departure and arrival points throughout the UK  

Inter-island routes 

Port 1                          Direction Port 2                                       
Ardrossan                       to        Brodick                                      
Ballycastle (NI)                to        Rathlin (NI)                                 
Claonaig/Tarbert                to        Lochranza                                    
Colintraive                     to        Rhubodach                                    
Cowes                           to        East Cowes                                   
Corran Ferry                    to        Various departure and arrival points on Loch Linnhe
Cuan                            to        Luing                                        
Fionnphort                      to        Iona                                         
Gourock                         to        Dunoon                                       
Gourock                         to        Kilcreggan                                   
Gutcher                         to        Yell-Oddsta, Fetlar                          
Houton                          to        Lyness                                       
Islay                           to        Feolin (Jura)                                
Kennacraig                      to        Islay                                        
Kirkwall                        to        Stronsay                                     
Kirkwall                        to        Shapinsay                                    
Largs                           to        Cumbrae Slip                                 
Laxo or Vidlin                  to        Symbister, Whalsay                           
Lerwick                         to        Bressay                                      
Lochaline                       to        Fishnish                                     
Lymington                       to        Yarmouth                                     
Mallaig                         to        Armadale                                     
Oban                            to        Craignure                                    
Oban                            to        Castlebay-Lochboisdale                       
Oban                            to        Coll-Tiree                                   
Portsmouth                      to        Fishbourne                                   
Portsmouth                      to        Ryde                                         
Sconser                         to        Raasay                                       
Seil                            to        Easdale                                      
Southampton                     to        East Cowes                                   
Southampton                     to        Cowes                                        
Southsea                        to        Ryde                                         
Strangford (NI)                 to        Portaferry (NI)                              
Stromness                       to        Graemesay                                    
Tarbert                         to        Portavadie                                   
Tayinloan                       to        Gigha                                        
Tingwall                        to        Rousay                                       
Toft, Mainland                  to        Ulsta, Yell                                  
Uig                             to        Tarbert                                      
Ullapool                        to        Stornoway                                    
Wemyss Bay                      to        Rothesay                                     
Other Scottish west coast routes to        Unspecified                                  
Other Shetland routes           to        Unspecified                                  

In the inter-island routes: 

  • “other Scottish West Coast routes” include:
    • Oban to Kennacraigh or Colansay or Lismore,
    • Barra to Eriskey,
    • Mallaig to Eigg or Much or Rum or Canna,
    • Tobermory to Kilchoan 
  • “other Shetland routes” include routes to and from Skerries and Papa Stour 

River ferries 

Port 1            Direction Port 2                    
Battersea         to        London Bridge              
Devonport         to        Torpoint                   
Embankment        to        Woolwich                   
Embankment        to        Greenwich                  
Hilton Docklands  to        Canary Wharf               
Liverpool         to        Seacombe                   
Portsmouth        to        Gosport                    
Putney            to        Blackfriars                
Sandbanks         to        Shell Bay                  
Southampton       to        Hythe                      
Westminster       to        Greenwich                  
Westminster       to        Hampton Court              
Westminster       to        St Katharine’s Dock        
Westminster       to        Thames Barrier             
Woolwich          to        London Eye (Thames Clipper)
Woolwich          to        North Woolwich             

Timeline of coronavirus (COVID-19) events affecting sea travel since March 2020 

This is a timeline of the events that affected UK domestic and international sea travel from March 2020 to March 2022, due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

COVID-19 events Date of Introduction Month of Introduction
Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised against all non-essential international travel 17/03/2020 March
UK lockdown applied 23/03/2020 March
Persons travelling to the UK from outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland and Crown Dependencies) required to self-isolate for 14 days 08/06/2020 June
Travel corridors introduced, allowing travel into the UK from countries on an exempt list without the need to self-isolate. France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands, which usually make up the majority of ‘Other EU’ short sea passenger volumes, were originally included in the exempt list 10/07/2020 July
Spain removed from exempt list (that is, it is no longer part of travel corridors and self-isolation required) (UK) 26/07/2020 July
Belgium removed from exempt list (England) 03/08/2020 August
Belgium removed from exempt list (Wales) 06/08/2020 August
Belgium removed from exempt list (Scotland and Northern Ireland) 08/08/2020 August
France and Netherlands removed from exempt list (UK) 15/08/2020 August
Denmark removed from exempt list (UK) 26/09/2020 September
Denmark added to exempt list (UK) 25/10/2020 October
England lockdown applied 05/11/2020 November
Denmark removed from exempt list (UK) 06/11/2020 November
England lockdown removed 02/12/2020 December
Self-isolation period on arrival changed from 14 days to 10 days (Wales) 10/12/2020 December
Self-isolation period on arrival changed from 14 days to 10 days (UK) 14/12/2020 December
Test to release, to shorten the self-isolation period for international arrivals, was introduced 15/12/2020 December
Varying Christmas travel guidelines across the UK Christmas period December
England and Scotland lockdown applied 05/01/2021 January
Pre-departure testing requirements introduced for all inbound international passengers to England 15/01/2021 January
All travel corridors suspended (Scotland) 15/01/2021 January
Pre-departure testing requirements introduced for all inbound international passengers to Scotland and Wales 18/01/2021 January
All travel corridors suspended (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) 18/01/2021 January
Pre-departure testing requirements introduced for all inbound international passengers to Northern Ireland 21/01/2021 January
All inbound international passengers arriving from red list countries required to quarantine in managed quarantine facilities. All inbound international passengers required to take 2 mandatory COVID-19 tests, on day 2 and 8 of their 10-day quarantine (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) 15/02/2021 February
All inbound international passengers required to quarantine in managed quarantine facilities. All inbound international passengers required to take 2 mandatory COVID-19 tests, on day 2 and 8 of their 10-day quarantine (Scotland) 15/02/2021 February
Introduction of legislation where individuals can be fined for travelling abroad without good reason. Travellers obligated to complete a Travel Declaration Form prior to leaving the UK (England) 29/03/2021 March
Introduction of traffic light system for international travel. Passengers arriving from green list countries not required to quarantine. Passengers arriving from amber list countries required to quarantine for 10 days unless utilising the Test to Release scheme. Passengers arriving from red list countries required to follow rules introduced in February 2021 (England, Wales and Scotland) 17/05/2021 May
Introduction of traffic light system for international travel. Passengers arriving from green list countries not required to quarantine. Passengers arriving from amber list countries required to quarantine for 10 days unless utilising the Test to Release scheme. Passengers arriving from red list countries required to follow rules introduced in February 2021 (Northern Ireland) 24/05/2021 May
Passengers arriving from amber list countries and territories who are fully vaccinated in the UK no longer required to isolate for 10 days on arrival. These passengers must complete a mandatory COVID-19 test on or before day 2 after their arrival. France is not included in this exemption (UK) 19/07/2021 July
Passengers arriving from amber list countries and territories who are fully vaccinated in Europe and US residents fully vaccinated in the US no longer required to self isolate for 10 days on arrival. These passengers must complete a mandatory COVID-19 test on or before day 2 after their arrival. France is not included in the exemption 02/08/2021 August
Passengers arriving from France no longer required to quarantine if fully vaccinated in the UK, Europe or the US. Norway and other European countries added to the Government’s Green list for travel 08/08/2021 August
A new system of travel with countries identified as on “red list” and “rest of world” was implemented from 4 October 2021 04/10/2021 October
Fully vaccinated travellers returning to England from “rest of world” countries (such as non “red list” countries) can replace day 2 PCR tests with lateral flow tests from 24 October 24/10/2021 October
In response to the omicron variant, fully vaccinated travellers returning to England from “rest of world” countries (such as non “red list” countries) must self-isolate and take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after they arrive in England from 30 November. They may leave self isolation if their PCR result is negative 30/11/2021 November
All people aged 12 years and over must also take a PCR or lateral flow test before they travel to England from abroad from the 7 December. Similar rules also came in for travel to the rest of the UK 07/12/2021 December
In response to the omicron variant being widespread in the UK, all but essential travel from the UK to France was banned by the French Government from the 20 December 20/12/2021 December
People who qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England can end self-isolation after 7 days with 2 negative lateral flow tests from the 24 December. Similar easings were applied in the rest of the UK 24/12/2021 December
People who qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England no longer need a pre-departure COVID-19 test or quarantine on arrival. Similar easings were also made in Scotland 07/01/2022 January
Passengers arriving in England may choose either a PCR test or a lateral flow test as a post arrival test 09/01/2022 January
France allows fully vaccinated travellers to enter France without a compelling reason and fully vaccinated travellers to France are not required to self-isolate on arrival 14/01/2022 January
Fully vaccinated passengers no longer need to take a COVID-19 test when arriving in the UK 11/02/2022 February
France announces that fully vaccinated travellers from the United Kingdom are no longer required to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test 12/02/2022 February
Unvaccinated British teenagers allowed to enter Spain provided they give a negative PCR test from Monday 14 February 14/02/2022 February
All remaining UK travel restrictions end 18/03/2022 March