That’s one way to beat the queues in Dover! Inside the 100-year-old tall ship Morgenster that could sail from Kent to Belgium for £700 each way
- The Morgenster ship sails from Ostend, Belgium, to Ramsgate, Kent on May 1
- The man behind the company Karl de Boer, 44, said he wanted a ‘new era of sailing’
A businessman has revealed plans for a ferry service with the historic ship Morgenster between England and the Belgian coast.
Karel de Boer said he wanted a ‘new age of sailing’ that is environmentally friendly and captures the ‘romanticism of the sea’.
The maiden voyage of the 100-year-old ship will sail on May 1 from Ostend, Belgium, to Ramsgate, Kent, for a price of £700.
Mr de Boer told the times: ‘It is not a traditional crossing but a real sailing trip. We are completely dependent on the wind. That means we don’t know exactly when we will arrive.
‘An active and open attitude is a must, from hoisting sails to navigating. You can also take over the helm for a while. So it is much more than just a crossing.’
The 100-year-old ship’s maiden voyage sails May 1 from Ostend, Belgium, to Ramsgate, Kent, for a price of £700
The saloon area of sailing boat Morgenster where 12 guests can sleep in hammocks
The companion steps into the saloon and dining area of the ship
The 45-meter ship was built in 1919 and can accommodate 24 passengers in two and four-bed cabins. The crossing between Ostend and Ramsgate can take between 10 and 30 hours, depending on the wind.
De Boer said he realized it was a ‘pity’ that people were no longer using sailing ships for ‘day-to-day’ purposes in the North Sea and thought it would be a better way to travel without relying on fossil fuels.
The sailing will be the first trip to cross the Ostend to Ramsgate route since Transeurope Ferries went bankrupt in 2013. The route had been in use for hundreds of years, with Ostend as a hub since 1584 and Ramsgate a ‘royal port’ since 1749.
The Morgenster will be inspected by the Maritime and Coast Guard Service in the coming days before the service is finally approved.
The ship can accommodate a total of 24 guests. In the photo: a cage with two beds and a sink
A four-berth cabin aboard the Morgenster ship
Another corner of the ship’s dining area where food and drinks are provided by a cook
Mr. De Boer said he would consider investing in a new class of passenger sailing vessels if the voyage was a success.
He adds: ‘We want to make crossings with fast ships accessible to a wider audience in the future.
“These classic old ships are very beautiful and wonderful, but we want to look to the future and the modern technologies that are being developed that are faster. That is more feasible for a larger audience.’
The 46-meter vessel was built in 1919 and can accommodate 24 passengers in two and four-bed cabins
The crossing between Ostend and Ramsgate can take between ten and thirty hours, depending on the wind. Pictured: Sailors climb the rigging of the Morning Star in Poland, 2012
Karel de Boer, 44, said he wanted a ‘new age of sailing’ that is environmentally friendly and captures the ‘romanticism of the sea’
The Morgenster will be inspected by the Maritime and Coast Guard Service in the coming days before the service is finally approved. Pictured: The barge on the River Thames, London, in 2013
