Harwich ferry port bike parking?

[Tierbirdy]

So me and some mates are off on a jolly to the continent at some point in the not to distant future, going via Harwich ferry port. We're biking up to the port, meeting some mates with a car and going for a roadtrip across all in one car.

Wondering if anyone has used the port recently and knows what bike parking is like there. Website only gives info for cars and says its £8.70-£10.50 a day depending on how many days I dont really fancy spending best part of £60-ish on parking. So:

1. Can bikes park for free at the port? Is there dedicated bike parking or can you nip around the barrier to avoid paying or is it a bog standard pay & display/ANPR controlled?

2. If there is bike parking, is it secure? Anywhere to chain bikes to, or next to a security office or camera or anything that might slightly increase the chances of bikes actually still being there when we come back.

3. If not, is there anywhere nearby thats free and/or more secure we can leave the bikes?

[M.C]

Don't know about port parking but Harwich's a bit of a $hit hole (as most port towns are). Wouldn't park on the street/car parks etc.

[Matt B]