A "NEW" ship will be cruising out of town after being re-named in a ceremony at Ipswich waterfront.Town mayor, Penny Breakwell, was the Lady Sponsor at the ceremony held at Associated British Ports' (ABP) Port of Ipswich .

A "NEW" ship will be cruising out of town after being re-named in a ceremony at Ipswich waterfront.

Town mayor, Penny Breakwell, was the Lady Sponsor at the ceremony held at Associated British Ports' (ABP) Port of Ipswich .

Arriving at the port as m.v. Rodona, the ship was officially re-christened m.v. Ipswich Way by Mrs Breakwell in the traditional manner with a bottle of champagne broken across its bow.

The ceremony, hosted by port manager Robert Smith, included a service of dedication at the Port's West Bank conducted by the Rev. Ken Martin of The Felixstowe and Haven Ports' Seafarers' Centres.

Recently acquired by cargo-ferry operators Ferryways, the 136-m long ship was re-named the m.v. Ipswich Way in honour of the company's strong links with the port. The m.v. Ipswich Way is the fourth ship to join Ferryways' fleet which operates a daily service of four sailings between Ipswich and Ostend.

Mrs Breakwell joined guests, including local civic and business dignitaries, at a lunchtime reception held at the port's Waterfront Conference Centre in Old Custom House.

The celebrations closed with a speech by Ferryways' managing director, Jacques Dewilde.

Mr Smith, said he was delighted to host such a ceremony, adding: "This has been a real honour for ABP's Port of Ipswich. That Ferryways chose to re-name their new vessel the m.v. Ipswich Way, and to hold the naming ceremony here, is a real accolade for the port and the town.

"We have rapidly built a strong relationship with Ferryways which I hope will become even stronger."

Jacques Dewilde spoke highly of the port and said: "Our connection with Ipswich is so strong that we felt it was only natural that we should name our newest vessel after the port and town and hold the ceremony here."

Operating a roll-on/roll-off ferry service, Ferryways began its service at the Port of Ipswich in 2000. The number of crossings between Ipswich and Ostend will now increase to 21 a week with this latest addition to Ferryways' fleet. The number of sailings made by the company's fleet between the two ports has tripled in the last three years.

The colourful and scenic waterfront at Ipswich continues to undergo a £350 million regeneration which has brought together Ipswich Borough Council, ABP and a wide range of private and public-sector partners. New marinas, homes, restaurants and offices have been completed and more are in the pipeline.