A FAST ferry from Portland to France providing a major boost to the local economy could start next year.

The people behind the HighSpeedFerries project, which was first mooted a year ago, have refused to confirm a start date but the Echo understands cross-Channel services could begin as early as the spring of 2012.

Portland Port, which will host the ferry operation, says discussions are at an ‘advanced stage’.

HighSpeedFerries director Jonathan Packer said it was a ‘delicate time’ for negotiations.

Portland offers the fastest crossing to France in the Western Channel and it is the intention of HighSpeedFerries to carry passengers and vehicles in a two-hour crossing to Cherbourg.

There would be up to three sailings a day at peak times provided by a fast catamaran ferry similar to Brittany Ferries’ Normandie Express vessel which runs out of Portsmouth.

Mr Packer is a Somerset-based shipping businessman and was part of the original team who established Portland Port in 1996 at the former navy base. He remains a director of the port harbour authority but his HighSpeedFerries’ venture is separate.

Mr Packer refused to be drawn on details about finance and the timescale of the operation.

He said: “It’s a delicate time for negotiations with other parties and I can’t confirm whether the operation will start at Easter 2012 but I can say that the project continues and all the necessary consents are being obtained.”

Mr Packer said the intention was to spend money on developing the ferry terminal and operation base at Portland Port.

He doesn’t believe it would compete with Condor Ferries’ sailing from Weymouth.

The Echo understands that the Portland operation would create 40 on-shore jobs as well as more on the ferry. The service will operate from the jetty where the prison ship HMP The Weare used to be berthed.

Chief Executive of Portland Harbour Authority Steve Davies said: “HighSpeedFerries has shown interest in developing a viable ferry route between Portland and Cherbourg.

“Discussions are at an advanced stage with this new ferry operator consulting statutory bodies such as Portland Harbour Authority and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.”

Mr Davies added: “This is one of the commercial proposals we’ve received that is under serious consideration.”