Hopes for Scottish ferry to mainland Europe boosted by £3m funding

A £3m funding pledge for a Scottish port comes with hopes that a new ferry service to France will set sail soon, the Scottish Secretary has said.

Douglas Alexander said the investment in Rosyth from the UK's Growth Mission Fund would see plans for a direct ferry service between Scotland and France take a "big step forward".

It has been nearly eight years since freight ferries sailed between Rosyth and Europe and more than 15 years since the last passenger service ceased operations.

The planned investment could help with upgrades to the Border Force and customs infrastructure at the port, but is subject to the conclusion of a commercial agreement between the port and a ferry operator.

Forth Ports, which operates the Rosyth facility, is "actively engaged" in talks with the ferry operator DFDS over a new passenger and freight ferry service between Rosyth and Dunkirk.

Earlier projections to re-establish the international link by this spring had appeared to be set back while the Scottish government sought to establish a new border control post for checking goods.

The only major service from Scotland in recent years took freight and passengers from Rosyth, just outside the Scottish capital, to Zeebrugge in Belgium.

Superfast Ferries initially launched the route in 2002, but it was later taken over by Norfolkline, which was then acquired by the Danish company DFDS.

By 2010 the passenger element was scrapped, with DFDS blaming a lack of demand.

The company then axed its freight service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge in 2018 following a fire on one of its ships.

Since Brexit, regulations around freight have been complicated for UK hauliers.

Food and other agricultural products must undergo biosecurity checks at a Border Control Post (BCP) before entering or leaving the UK.

As there is currently no such facility at Rosyth, the Scottish government had been considering a proposal for the BCP at Grangemouth, 20 miles (32km) away, to be used instead.

Alexander is due to meet senior figures from Forth Ports, DFDS, and the operators of the Port of Dunkirk later.

The Scottish secretary said: "With the UK government delivering £3m in investment, this new direct ferry service would connect Scotland to Europe's doorstep.

"The UK government is backing Scottish businesses to grow, export and compete on the world stage."

Speaking about the planned service, Alexander added: "It would boost tourism, open up new markets for Scottish businesses, create jobs, take freight off our roads and grow Scotland's economy.

"This is a big step forward and I hope we will soon see the first ferry set sail."

The funding, he said, was a "major vote of confidence in Scotland's, and the UK's, economic future".

Scotland's Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said the Scottish government was strongly in favour of the move and had consulted on legislation that would enable direct freight and passenger services to Europe.

She said: "We are also assessing an application from DFDS for a Waterborne Freight Grant for the proposed Rosyth to Dunkirk ferry route, and note that any UK government funding would be subject to the conclusion of a commercial agreement and business case."

DFDS executive vice president Mathieu Girardin said they were pleased to see the government commitment to strengthening port infrastructure.

"This is an important step in bringing a new route between Scotland and mainland Europe closer to reality," he said.

"While a few elements still need to be addressed, we see strong potential in the route and look forward to continuing our discussions with all partners involved to move the project forward."

Stuart Wallace, chief executive at Forth Ports, also welcomed the investment support.

"A ferry service from Rosyth to mainland Europe is a key part of the Forth Green Freeport and this funding helps create the market conditions needed to see the ferry take a step closer to reality," he said.

Dunkirk terminal currently has cross-Channel ferry links to Dover.

The port, which is east of Calais and close to the Belgian border, says it is the top rail freight hub in France, connecting to European railway networks particularly on the North-East rail freight artery to Germany, the Rhône corridor and Italy.

Daniel Deschodt, executive vice president of the Port of Dunkirk, said a direct maritime link to Rosyth would be a "significant strategic asset".

"This new freight and passenger ferry service will enhance connectivity between the two countries, facilitating smoother trade flows and serving as a powerful catalyst for economic growth.

"It will stimulate port activity, boost local employment, and strengthen the logistics, competitiveness, and tourism of both regions within Europe."

A statement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the £3m "major boost" in Rosyth "would make the area a more attractive place to live, work and start a business in the years to come".