LONG awaited passenger ferry services return to Thanet this summer when TransEuropa begin operating between Ramsgate and Belgium.

Belgium's deputy Prime Minister Johan Vande Lanotte - who is also chairman of the Port of Ostende, TransEuropa shipping line representatives, and Cllr Bob Bayford, Thanet council cabinet member for regeneration, economic development and maritime services, made the announcement in Ostende at the weekend.

The new service is targeting car passengers and it will run up to four times daily from July. It is intended to provide a gateway for northern European countries, such as Belgium, Holland, Germany and Denmark.

The announcement ends years of speculation over a possible ferry service restarting at Ramsgate New Port, after Sally Line withdrew in 1998 following years of sailing to Dunkirk in northern France.

Cllr Bayford said: “This is an important economic development for the area and strengthens Ramsgate's emerging position as a gateway to the continent. This was highlighted by the recent arrival of EUjet at Kent International Airport, Manston.

“We are delighted that, after months of careful negotiation, this agreement has been signed between these two historic ports.

“The arrival of more visitors will serve to increase the attractiveness of the area to inward investors and will help to strengthen the overall economy of Thanet.

“We have been positioning the port to capitalise on the projected shortfall in Channel port capacity, as demonstrated by a recent SEAPORTS study.

“This agreement is evidence of the success of our policy to market Ramsgate as a viable gateway to Europe."

Thanet council is one of few local authorities to run its own port and since it made the step in November 1998 freight traffic has increase from 42,000 freight trailers six years ago to 147,000 freight trailers now.

A new two-and-a-half year freight agreement has also been signed with TransEuropa as part of the passenger service deal.