ANOTHER ship went into operation on the Ramsgate to Ostend service at the weekend. The Orleanda is a former P & O vessel and has previously been known as both the Picardy and the Pride of Free Enterprise. It can carry up to 44 lorries on each trip and has passenger carrying capacity.

The former RMT vessel, Primrose, has left the freight operation for an annual refit and is expected to return to service at the end of July. From then the service that is operated by TransEuropa Shipping Lines, will have six vessels operating on the route, increasing the number of sailings to ten a day.

Cllr Richard Nicholson, leader of Thanet council, said: “The addition of the Orleanda on the Ostend route is a tremendous boost for Ramsgate New Port and means we can significantly increase the throughput of traffic. It is further evidence of the significant role that the port is taking in helping to regenerate the area’s economy”.