A FERRY travelling from Rosyth, Fife to Europe could reportedly be reintroduced in spring this year, with regulatory barriers being overcome.
The ferry, which is set to run from Rosyth to the port of Dunkirk, France will be the first Scotland-Europe ferry since a route to Belgium was closed in 2018.
The requirement for a dedicated border control post in Rosyth was blocking the move, but officials are reportedly making progress on allowing checks to take place at nearby Grangemouth instead.
The service will carry both freight and passengers to Europe, with an estimated 51,000 passengers expected to use the service per year and the route could add around £11.5m to the Scottish economy, according to reports.
A DFDS cargo ship near the Port of Rosyth (C) Brydon Leask / Wikimedia Commons
Passengers have not been able to travel to Europe from Scotland via ferry since 2010, when passenger provision for the old Scotland-Zeebrugge was removed.
That route ran without passengers until permanently closing in 2018 due to Danish operator Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab (DFDS) deeming it uneconomical.
DFDS has been brought on once again to help restart Scotland-Europe ferries and emulate the old route.
The Rosyth-Dunkirk ferry project has been in the works for some years now, with the reintroduction of the service initially lined up for spring 2025.
Delays ensued due to a lack of funding and regulatory issues involving EU import requirements for a dedicated border control facility and checks.
In November last year, Scottish minister for agriculture and connectivity, Jim Fairlie, has instructed officials to prepare a consultation on new legislation which will allow goods to flow between Rosyth and Dunkirk.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes wrote to UK secretary of state for Scotland, Douglas Alexander, confirming the Scottish Government will “do all it can to remove obstacles to the project”.
A Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) – a Scottish Government act which can quickly pass certain pieces of legislation – was said to be in the works to remove obstacles to the plans late last year.
Now, reports from TimeOut Magazine suggest that obstacles are being overcome and that a Spring reopening of the route will be possible.
The ferry would run three times per week and take a total of 20 hours to get from one port to the other, making it one of the longest ferry journeys in Europe.
Initially, it will be able to carry 51,000 passengers per year, with hopes to increase the total to 79,000 down the line.
The previous Rosyth and Zeebrugge ferry took 17 hours and ran four times per week – although it was permanently axed as a passenger service in 2010.
A spokesperson for DFDS, however, said that there was no fixed timeline for the reopening.
Speaking today, he said: “DFDS is still interested in the service, and we are actively engaged in constructive discussions with the local authorities.
“Progress is being made, and we remain optimistic about the potential of this new route.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:
“The Scottish Government has always made clear our support for the development of Scotland’s ports and the potential for new direct freight and passenger ferry services linking Scotland to Europe.
“We will continue to engage with port operators and others to explore how that might be delivered so that Scottish exporters have more direct routes to market.
“A consultation is ongoing on proposals to amend the minimum requirements for the location of a Border Control Post. The consultation ends on Thursday and next steps will be announced in due course.”
Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, Graeme Downie, previously accused the SNP of dragging its feet on the reintroduction of the ferry.
He said the SNP were blocking the reopening of the route which would “bring visitors and trade to Scotland and strengthen trade links with the EU” by refusing to sign a “simple piece of paper”.
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