Ferry News Archive
New Rosyth ferry crossing deal just days away
Date: 01 Aug 2008 00:00 Source: www.dunfermlinepress.comA deal for a replacement ferry operator to take over from Superfast could be just days away but the Scottish Government wants a daily service reinstated.
Speculation is growing that an announcement will be made next week but there are still issues over government subsidies and service frequency.
Despite it being profitable, Superfast reduced the Euro-ferry from Rosyth to Zeebrugge to every other day in 2005 and it’s understood the Scottish Government wants two ships on the route.
This could favour the Dutch outfit credited with an interest in taking over as opposed to John White, who was given the contract for the Norway-Zeebrugge-Rosyth ferry.
He should receive confirmation of EU funding for that project within days.
The operator in Holland – yet to be named – is believed to be able to take over from Superfast and offer a freight and passenger service when the Greek-based company pull out in September.
Another vessel would follow next year which would reinstate the daily service ministers are clamouring for but it’s understood they may not give subsidies until two ships are operating on the route.
There is a further sticking point about the suitability of the vessels and the possibility that dock alterations may have to be made to allow them to dock properly.
To that end, it has been suggested that Forth Ports may even buy a boat to lease to an operator, or approach Superfast to lease their ship until a replacement is sourced.
Forth Ports and the Scottish Government have been in talks with potential operators but spokesmen told the Press that “talks were ongoing”.
Councillor Tony Martin, chair of Fife Council’s transport and environment committee, said, “I’ve got a meeting with the transport minister, Stewart Stevenson, on Wednesday and he’s going to update me on the ferry.
“I’m hoping he’ll have something positive to tell me.”
Superfast announced they were pulling the plug on the Rosyth Euro-ferry in May and the clock is ticking before the last sailing on 13th September.
Shetland businessman Mr White had expressed an interest in expanding the Norshukon project – which was to be a freight-only service – to pick up the slack when Superfast leave.
In June he told the Press, “Now that Superfast are pulling out we can say to the Scottish Government that we can extend the service we’ve already had approved.”
But he’s yet to hear from the government and ferry expert Alf Baird said he would need a firm commitment within two weeks or he would lose out on vessels.
He said, “Stewart Stevenson has to talk to an operator and get an agreement with some urgency.
“Mr White’s charter options will probably be lost by mid-August as the demand for ferries is enormous.
"He has to make a commitment on ships but the Government is playing a very risky game with consultants running about trying to talk to everyone but with no real outcome.
“He’s offered a solution but they’ve not really reacted to that, which is a bit of a worry unless they’ve got an operator elsewhere.
“It’s going to be a very nasty outcome if the service doesn’t continue as it will cost tens of millions to get it up and running again and to re-tender it.
“And they’ve already lost hauliers who will go to ports down south now.”
Mr Baird, who works for Napier University, told the Press that Mr White’s offer had seemed like “the perfect solution”.
He said, “The requirement is for Stewart Stevenson to put in money to cover the start-up losses, which probably wouldn’t be vast as the route is fairly mature.
“If he underwrites them, the losses would probably be less than 10 million Euros over two years, which isn’t enough to buy a couple of miles of roads.”
And he added, “Further down the road, you’ll find tolls going on English roads – the UK government is now talking about it – which means it would cost more for hauliers to get to the southern ports.”
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