The number of passengers using the Newhaven-to-Dieppe ferry service has doubled during the year, boosting the chances of the route being sold.

Time keeping has also improved and there have been no cancellations due to bizarre incidents, such as ships running aground or crashing into harbour walls, that had plagued the service in the past two years.

More than 23,000 passengers made the 67-mile crossing on the two Transmanche ferries, MV Dieppe and Sardinia Vera, in July compared with 12,500 in July 2004.

The number of vehicles was also up. A total of 5,500 cars, vans, caravans and coaches were carried in July this year, compared 3,300 the previous year.

Lorry traffic, which includes container freight, has increased with 3,500 vehicles making the crossing in July 2005, compared with 2,500 in July 2004.

French-owned Transmanche is the only ferry company operating the route after the fast ferry operator Hoverspeed pulled out this year after five years of continuous operation.

The increased passenger and vehicle usage figures will boost the chances of the route being sold off to a specialised shipping company.

The Conseil General de La Seine-Maritime, the French local government department which financially backs Transmanche Ferries, launched an appeal for offers for the line last month.

The French have put millions into developing the route and improving the port of Dieppe. Transmanche already owns the ports of Newhaven and Dieppe and wants to concentrate on running the ports with a specialised shipping company.

Steve Forrest, operations manager at Newhaven, said: "The intention is to sell off to a recognised ferry company such as Brittany Ferries, SeaFrance or even P&O. We are waiting to see what happens".

The first of two new ferries costing £55 million will come into operation next spring, followed by the second later in the year.

The 16,000 tonne Cote d'Albatre and its sister ship Seven Sisters can both carry 600 passengers and 62 cars and will make the crossing in three-and-a-half hours instead of the current four- and-a-half hours.

Mr Forrest said: "Once we get two new ferries on this route we are set for boom years."

The Dieppe and the Sardinia Vera will be put on other European routes when they are replaced by the new ferries.