Credit: Getty
THE exact date for the return of a direct ferry service between Scotland and Europe has been set.
Work on reintroducing a travel link between Rosyth, Fife, and the French port of Dunkirk through a passenger and freight service has been hit by delays in recent years.
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Danish ferry operator DFDS Seaways previously said the route was not viableCredit: Alamy
Food and agricultural products must currently undergo checks at a Border Control Post (BCP) before entering Scotland from the European mainland.
The existing port at Rosyth is unable to facilitate these checks.
But they are in place at Grangemouth, just over 20 miles away.
Proposed changes to legislation have been lodged, which would allow flexibility on location requirements for a BCP.
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This could allow products arriving from the EU being docked at Rosyth, and then checked at the BCP in Grangemouth.
The new route would be particularly important for the agricultural sector in Scotland, which has faced challenges due to Brexit.
Derek Sloan – the shipping expert behind the project – hailed the latest news.
He said: “It takes that red line away. So, now we can move on with some of the other issues which are nowhere near as difficult to solve.”
The Ptarmigan Shipping CEO said that this includes improving the infrastructure at Rosyth. Project partners, meanwhile, are already looking at vessels.
Sloan said a launch date has been set for May 26 2026, adding: “That’s our preferred start date because that way we would catch the holiday season for passengers, which would be a good start for the vessel.
“We’re looking at vessels and continue talks with the Port of Rosyth about some of the infrastructure that’s required. The Port of Dunkirk is basically ready.
“I’m quite positive that things are starting to turn in the right direction now.”
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has already written to Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander confirming the Scottish Government’s intention to do everything in its power to remove obstacles to the project.
She also called on the UK Government to confirm they are willing “to address at pace” the border control issues which remain reserved.
Officials have been instructed to prepare a consultation on the legislation, which is expected to be launched as soon as possible and before the Scottish Parliament is dissolved for next May’s elections.
Asked whether there is enough urgency and concerns as to whether May 26 may be too soon, Sloan said: “The Scottish Government knows the deadline as well. They know that if it gets delayed too long, then we’ll not meet that deadline.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has already written to Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander in a bid to remove obstacles to the project.Credit: Alamy
“So there’s definitely a sense of urgency on their part as well.”
He added: “You never can say it’s done until it’s done, but I think everyone’s now pulling in the right direction together.”
Scots currently need to travel down to Newcastle if they want to take a ferry to mainland Europe after the freight service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge in Belgium stopped sailing seven years ago – with Danish operator DFDS Seaways saying it wasn’t economically viable, after a fire.
The last that carried passenger services was in 2010.
Scots currently need to travel to England to take a ferry to mainland EuropeCredit: Getty