A HUGE new ferry made waves as it sailed into Ramsgate for the first time, heralding a bright future for the town’s port.

The Ostend Spirit, which is being run jointly by LD Lines and Transeuropa Ferries, completed its maiden return voyage between Ramsgate and Ostend on Saturday.

The ship can hold 1,850 passengers, 700 cars and 110 lorries for the four-hour crossing.
A second vessel, Transeuropa’s Oleander, will also be used for the passenger and freight service.

LD Lines' spokesman Nick Stevens said, "It's excellent timing to be launching ahead of the Easter holidays and we are confident that this will help generate good business for the service in the start up period, with passengers who may decide on a last minute short break across the channel.

"Taking the car and enjoying Ostend and the Flanders region will be very attractive to ferry travellers, and we expect the service to undoubtedly stimulate new business.

"It's essential that the new service becomes established in both directions and we are already working closely with tourist offices and organisations on both sides of the channel, such as Visit Flanders and Visit Kent, to help make the route a success.

"Additionally, there is a huge potential travel market from the Benelux countries, Germany and Northern and Eastern Europe, who would find crossing via Ostend a lot easier and closer than driving on to other channel ports along the French coast, so these too are markets we intend to attract."