Hopes were high today that a new conventional cross-Channel ferry would make its first appearance at Newhaven this week.

It is believed the Italian vessel Sardina Vera, chartered to operate the Newhaven-Dieppe route all year, could slip into the port to test the loading ramp.

A dredger has been clearing the channel into Newhaven so it can take bigger ships.

If the Sardina Verda does arrive, it will be the first time a conventional ferry has sailed into the port since February 1999, when P&O Stena Line withdrew its ferry after claiming it was making an £8 million a year loss on the route.

Sea Containers is negotiating to sell the port to a company backed by the Seine-Maritime, the French equivalent of East Sussex County Council.

The French, who have spent millions improving facilities at Dieppe, are anxious to get an all-year ferry service on the 64-mile route up and running as quickly as possible.

The problem has been the seasonal Hoverspeed service, which runs between March and October, also owned by Sea Containers. The company wants to protect that service and is demanding overall responsibility for ticket sales on both vessels.

Nick Stevens, Hoverspeed route director said: "Talks are on-going. We see a conventional ferry, complementary to our fast ferry service, starting on March 30."

The 12,000 tonne Sardina Vera has been chartered from Corsica Ferries, which runs vessels in the Mediterranean.

It can carry 600 passengers and 50 lorries. The fast ferry service can carry cars but does not take lorries or coaches. The restoration of the freight service is seen as vital to both ports.

Industrial relations problems may be looming as the Sardina Vera will be flying the Italian flag with an Italian crew.

Italian wages are lower than French seamen's wages.

The French CGT union has condemned the hiring of an Italian crew on a service operating between France and England. It is calling for strike action to highlight the difference in pay.