Portland has been chosen as the site for a proposed new crossing to France. HighSpeedFerries aims to establish a passenger and car ferry service between Portland and Cherbourg in the near future. Jonathan Packer, a director at HighSpeedFerries, commented: “Portland offers the fastest crossing to France on the Western Channel. HighSpeedFerries could get you to France in two hours, with a service two or three times a day in season.”

Mr Packer continued: “I would stress the whole focus of this is on the wider West Country and it’s the alternative to Dover that we see ourselves as”. Alluding to the numerous challenges that lie ahead, Mr Packer added: “I stress this is early days but I have wanted to do this for a long time, only now it’s becoming more of a reality but there is quite a way to go.”

Mr Packer aims to establish the HighSpeedFerries crossing by 2012 – preferably in time for the Olympic Games. Ian McQuade, the commercial manager for Portland Harbour Authority, said: “HighSpeedFerries has shown interest in developing a viable ferry route between Portland and Cherbourg… Portland’s facilities, location and talented pool of local staff make us ideally placed to service a wide range of exciting business opportunities.”

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