The revival of a passenger and freight ferry service between Belgium and Scotland has been delayed due to a combination of high costs, logistical challenges, and insufficient demand, with plans initially set to launch in 2023 now indefinitely postponed.
From 2002 to 2010, the ferry service connecting Zeebrugge in Belgium to Rosyth in Scotland was the only direct route between Scotland and Continental Europe for passengers.
This service, known as ROPAX (Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger and Cargo vessel), was a crucial link for travelers and freight.
However, it was discontinued and replaced by a freight-only service operated by Danish shipping company DFDS. The freight service, too, was terminated in 2018 following a ship fire, which ended all ferry traffic between the two nations.
In 2022, hopes were rekindled with the announcement of plans to reinstate the ROPAX service, operated by DFDS, which aimed to resume operations with three round trips per week between the Port of Antwerp Bruges (the merged ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge) and Rosyth.
The service was expected to take approximately 20 hours for each leg of the journey, with the first ships scheduled to sail in April 2023.
However, almost 1.5 years after the anticipated launch, the service remains unrealized. Bruges Mayor Dirk De fauw confirmed to The Brussels Times that despite multiple efforts by the port authority, it has proven impossible to make the service financially viable. “The project has faced numerous obstacles that have prevented its realization,” De fauw said.
High Costs and Practical Barriers
One of the primary challenges has been the implementation of the European Entry/Exit System, an automated IT system required to register passengers from non-EU countries, including the UK post-Brexit.
This new regulation necessitates significant investments in security equipment and infrastructure updates, including modifications to quays, berths, and reception facilities.
De fauw highlighted the enormity of these adjustments, which come with a hefty price tag. “The required infrastructure changes and investments are immense and costly,” he noted.
Further complicating the situation are logistical issues related to the ferry’s schedule. The proposed timetable includes arrival at 17:00 and departure between 21:00 and 22:00 from Zeebrugge.
This timing poses difficulties for support services such as Customs, the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV), and the Maritime Police, which may not be able to provide personnel after office hours.
Former MP Douglas Chapman, representing the Rosyth constituency, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the barriers related to border control and regulatory compliance.
Chapman had previously urged the UK Government to assist with these costs to make the service more competitive. However, no substantial help has materialized, further hindering the project’s feasibility.
Lack of Demand and Funding Challenges
The lack of demand for the service is another significant issue. Zeebrugge logistics companies have expressed limited interest in the ferry service, primarily due to the high cost of transporting cargo via a ROPAX vessel.
The financial viability of the service is further undermined by the reluctance of the port community to support a subsidized service.
De fauw explained, “There is a clear desire to avoid a subsidized shortsea service because once financial support ceases, the chances of the service continuing are minimal.”
On the Scottish side, funding challenges have also posed obstacles. Transport Scotland has voiced support for the development of new direct freight and passenger ferry services between Scotland and Europe.
However, UK Subsidy Control rules restrict government subsidies for international ferry routes, requiring such services to operate on a commercial basis to avoid legal complications.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson told The Brussels Times, “While we support the development of Scotland’s ports and new ferry services, the government cannot subsidize international ferry routes due to UK Subsidy Control rules.”
DFDS’s Future Plans and Alternatives
Despite the setback, DFDS remains interested in connecting Scotland to Continental Europe. The company is exploring alternative routes, including a potential service between Rosyth and Dunkirk in France. However, these plans are currently on hold.
DFDS spokesperson stated, “We are still looking for opportunities to link Scotland with Continental Europe. The idea of a ferry service between Rosyth and Dunkirk remains of interest, but we have paused plans for the time being.”
In the interim, the nearest ferry route offering similar services is between Newcastle in northern England and IJmuiden in the Netherlands.
This route, which takes approximately 16 hours, remains the closest alternative for travelers and freight moving between the UK and Continental Europe.
As efforts to reinstate the ferry service between Belgium and Scotland face continued delays, stakeholders on both sides of the North Sea will need to address the multifaceted challenges of costs, demand, and regulatory hurdles to make such a connection viable in the future.
For now, travelers and freight operators will have to rely on existing routes or await further developments in the proposed service.
, was a crucial link for travelers and freight){kind=link}