An under-fire ferry company says plans to launch a high-speed service between Ramsgate and Boulogne are not dead in the water, despite the cross-channel route suffering delays of almost one year.

Euroferries was due to make its first sailing on March 31, 2009, but the company put the launch date back to September before delaying the service again.

Passengers were left high and dry when a revised start date of November 14 passed with no sign of the Bonanza Express catamaran that had been earmarked for the route.

At the time, Euroferries said it was "fully intending the service to start in early 2010" but would not confirm a more precise date.

A spokeswoman confirmed on Monday (January 25) that a fourth launch date would be announced "very shortly" but claimed a "confidentiality agreement with working partners" prevented the company discussing the issue further.

She added: "Fear not - Ramsgate will get the service."