Ferry News Archive
Subsidy raises hope of saving Scottish ferry link to Continent
Date: 14 Jul 2008 00:00 Source: The HeraldScotland's only ferry link to the Continent could be saved thanks to a European Commission subsidy, it was revealed yesterday.
Superfast, which runs a Rosyth-to-Zeebrugge ferry, will end operations in September for, it says, financial reasons.
But the EU Commission says a new operator on the route would be eligible for a 30% subsidy.
Four ferry operators - one Scottish, one Danish and two Norwegian - are said to be interested in providing a service from Fife.
Instead of simply running between Rosyth and Belgium, the ferry could also go to Norway, possibly also calling at Shetland on certain days. Saving the service would be a boost for Scots holidaymakers who use the ferry every year to escape "under the bridges" to Europe, and who will otherwise have to drive to Tyneside for the nearest sea link.
Proposals to be considered under the scheme have to be submitted by the end of September, but may not be considered by the commission before December.
The subsidy would be allowable under the Motorways of the Sea scheme run by the EU, which already supports ferry routes in the Mediterranean and the Baltic.
Edinburgh-based SNP MEP Alyn Smith contacted Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani, asking if the Rosyth-to-Zeebrugge service would qualify for the financial support. He has received a letter confirming it may. Mr Smith said yesterday: "I put the case to him that surely linking in a big chunk of the UK mainland to Europe via Zeebrugge is clearly eligible to my mind for the Motorway of the Sea programme."
In his reply, Mr Tajani wrote: "I agree with your assessment that the potential exists. First, linking Scotland to Europe's mainland enters into one of the two objectives of the Motorways of the Sea programme to increase cohesion by connecting peripheral regions to the centre of Europe.
"Secondly, there is an undeniable potential of shift of transport away from the road."
Mr Smith is to meet officials from Forth Ports Authority this week to discuss the issue. He says speed is now crucial as freight operators who have been using the Superfast service from Rosyth are already signing up to other ferry companies sailing from Tyneside, Hull and the Channel ports.
Margaret Smith, the Edinburgh West MSP who earlier joined other Holyrood politicians in calling for an alternative operator to be found, said: "The Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry link is vital to the surrounding economies and Scotland as a whole."
Dunfermline West MSP Jim Tolson said the Scottish Government's priority should be to ensure a "seamless" handover to a new operator no later than September.
Motorways of the Sea subsidises ferries between Corsica and France as well as in Sweden and Estonia.
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