Ramsgate Royal Harbour has been given heritage status; however, in 2019 the port became part of the ‘Brexit’ drama when the UK Government cancelled a freight operator’s contract primarily following the withdrawal of an Irish shipowner, amongst backers.
Arklow Shipping Ltd had backed out of deal with Seaborne Freight; this led the government to axe the contract even though they had never run a ferry service. However, five years after the ferry debacle to run the service to Ostende, Belgium, the UK port's Royal Harbour Marina can now be proud as it is one of 14 across the UK to be made a heritage harbour.
The heritage status is a joint initiative between local groups, Historic England, the Maritime Heritage Trust and National Historic Ships, which together it is hoped will help preserve the English south east harbour's historic character.
A series of event to celebrate the port’s new status will take place next month.
Between 6-15 September, as part of Heritage Open Days, the Port of Ramsgate will be open to parts of the harbour not usually open to the public. For further details of related events, BBC News has more on the story.
Afloat adds the Port of Ramsgate's Royal Harbour is situated just 35 miles from the French coast, and that their marina is conveniently located on the doorstep of the continent.
The port's last ferry service connected Ostende until 2013 however the port retains 3 ro-ro bridges capable of accommodating conventional ro-ro fast ferry services.
According to Thanet District Council, last month councillors considered a progress report on projects to appoint a port operator for the Port of Ramsgate and the closely linked Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Ramsgate Port Infrastructure project.
