Inside the 100-year-old ship which could set sail from Kent to Belgium for £700 a crossing

A businessman has revealed plans to operate a ferry service with the historic Morgenster ship between England and the Belgian Coast.

Karel de Boer, 44, said he wanted a ‘new age of sail’ that is environmentally friendly and captures the ‘romance of the sea’.

The 100-year-old ship’s maiden voyage will sail from Ostend, Belgium, to Ramsgate, Kent, on May 1, for a price of £700.

Mr de Boer told the Times: ‘It is not a traditional crossing but a real sailing trip. We’re entirely 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 the sails to navigating. You can also take over the helm for a while. So it is much more than just a crossing.’

Karel de Boer, 44, said he wanted a ‘new age of sail’ that is environmentally friendly and captures the ‘romance of the sea’ 

The 46-metre 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 ten and 30 hours depending on the wind.

Mr de Boer said he realised it was a ‘shame’ people no longer used sailing ships for ‘day-to-day’ purposes on the North Sea and thought it would be a better way to travel with no reliance on fossil fuels.

The sailing will be the first voyage to cross the Ostend to Ramsgate route since Transeurope Ferries filed for bankruptcy in 2013.

The route had been in use for hundreds of years, with Ostend having been a hub since 1584 and Ramsgate a ‘royal harbour’ since 1749.

The 46-metre 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 ten and 30 hours depending on the wind. Pictured: sailors climb the rigging of the Morgenster in Poland, 2012

The Morgenster will be surveyed by the Maritime and Coastguard agency in the coming days before the service gets final approval. 

Mr de Boer said he would consider investing in a new class of passenger sailing ships if the voyage was a success.

He added: ‘We want to make crossings with fast sailing ships accessible to a wider public in the future. 

‘These classic old ships are very beautiful and wonderful but we want to look to the future and the modern technologies being developed that are quicker. This will be more feasible for a larger audience.’

The Morgenster will be surveyed by the Maritime and Coastguard agency in the coming days before the service gets final approval. Pictured: The ship on the River Thames, London, in 2013