Responding to the announcement today (Thursday) that Ptarmigan Shipping and DFDS have signed an agreement to investigate the possibility for a new ferry route, initially for freight, between Rosyth and Zeebrugge ALBA Westminster Group Leader and MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Neale Hanvey said:
“This is a welcome development but it requires direct investment and political will to turn this possibility into a reality.
“I am seeking an urgent meeting with the Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth to demand that the Scottish Government puts its money where its mouth is and gives its wholehearted backing to this important initiative which has the potential to generate much needed jobs at home as well as boosting trade and tourism on which our future economic prospects depend.
“In addition I am seeking a meeting with the companies involved to discuss the barriers that need to be overcome and what further support is required from the UK and Scottish Governments.
“ALBA has been at the forefront of the campaign to secure direct ferry links for passengers and freight between Rosyth ad mainland Europe having led a debate in Westminster in January and meeting with the Scotland Office Minister in March to urge the UK Government to reinstate European ‘Motorway of the Seas’ funding to support vital ferry routes.
“This morning I pressed the UK Minister for Exports, in the House of Commons at International Trade Questions, to do all that he can to support direct ferry links between Scotland and Europe and received a positive response that he would engage with the Scottish Government on this issue.
“It is now necessary for everyone to worktogether, both the UK and Scottish Governments, Fife Council and the local chamber of commerce to make sure that we grasp the opportunities to restore the direct ferry links with mainland Europe that Scotland needs.”
This has been needing action for over 5 years, was discussed within SNP branches but as yet no response from SNP government.
Like much else from Nicola Sturgeon, rhetoric and no action, on many fronts.
If anyone can set this up DFDS will, very efficient and impressive operator. But if this happens it will be vital to lift the stranglehold English ports has on our trade to the rest of Europe. Nothing has changed since the navigation act was imposed upon us. Having a direct route to Europe will reduce costs for those companies sending goods there doing away with the need to truck everthing down south.
Unfortunately Roddy the Scottish government is to busy putting our money into English pockets
Hopefully this is the beginning of something much bigger, where it becomes natural for freight from Scotland to go straight to Europe instead of having to head South through England.
travelled on it back in 2003 I had booked 12m of lane and cabin over £1000. ship was not full. Is there enough traffic to make it profitable there wasn’t last time. it arrived later than newcastle ferry which was better with up to 600miles to germany
It is down to promotion and if Ireland can have numerous routes Scotland can surely have one.
Duh, Ireland has no choice it doesn’t have a Tunnel across the Channel thats unaffected by the Weather. Promotion does NOT drive demand its the cost of using the route that does that for commercial operators if a route from Scotland is more unreliable than the competition or costs more then its simply going to fail no matter how much money is thrown at it in advertising.
And join EFTA and get on with being Independent. No more waffle, procrastination, papers, carrots etc…
The SNP-and-Ferries go together like a dildo and a fork.