A FAST ferry company created from the ashes of Hoverspeed, has taken a major step towards launching a new service from Dover, by securing a luxury high-speed craft.

Euroferries Limited, formed several weeks ago, and headed by ex-Hoverspeed managing director, Geoffrey Ede, has stated it intends to run a fast ferry service between Dover, Calais and Boulogne.

On Wednesday evening, Euroferries Limited were confirmed as the successful buyer of the Sprit of Ontario catamaran, which has been berthed in Rochester, New York.

The company has bought the craft, for $29.8million and Euroferries was one of seven companies involved in a bidding war for the Spirit of Ontario.

The City of Rochester Corporation Council said initial bids were in the range of $16million to $27million.

One of the companies also bidding was Navmed, another ferry company who say they are bringing a fast ferry service to Dover, Calais and Boulogne.

There have also been reports that Navmed have also been trying to secure the former Hoverspeed fast craft - Diamant and Rapide and both companies have set up websites, inviting people to apply for jobs.

Both Euroferries and Navmed have been stating that their ferry services will be up and running by the end of May. But it was only two weeks ago that it became widely known in the industry that Euroferries was on the verge of securing the lease to the Hoverport at Dover’s Western Docks. The Hoverport has stood empty since last November, when Hoverspeed ceased their fast-ferry service between Dover and Calais.

Navmed is expected to run its services from Dover’s Eastern docks.

The Spirit of Ontario is an 86-metre luxury catamaran, much larger than other fast craft working the Dover-Calais routes. It was bought by the City of Rochester, New York, for $32million, in 2004.

Euroferries and Rochester City Council are now expected to be called into an emergency session today, to begin finalising the deal.