Scotland-France ferry plans boosted by £6m funding pledges

The Scottish government has renewed its commitment to a direct Scotland-France fast ferry service – but the 20-hour route is not now expected to get underway this year. 

The route was originally expected to restart in spring 2024, after a 14-year gap since passenger ferries stopped plying the route in 2010 (and freight in 2018). 

Funding issues stalled the project, which was expected to run three times a week, but there were hopes to see it start last year, and then again this year. 

It now looks more secure, as both the UK government and the recently-formed Scottish government, have each now pledged £3million towards this.

The UK money has been set aside for Border Force and customs facilities at Rosyth and the UK government says the funding is now only "subject to the conclusion of a commercial agreement between Forth Ports [operator of the Port of Rosyth] and a ferry operator, as well as approval of their business case".

The Scottish money was a manifesto pledge by the government this year.

Ferry firm DFDS is understood to still be interested. 

A Scottish government spokesperson told The Connexion: "The Scottish government backs a direct ferry service between Scotland and Europe – and we have already taken a number of steps, including taking forward the legislation required, to enable it.

 “We are committed to supporting the necessary developments at Rosyth and further details will be outlined in due course.”

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish minister for business, Tom Arthur, said: "We greatly value the interest shown from business in the government’s commitment to support the funding of ferry services from Scotland to Europe."

He said it was "particularly timely" in the year of the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum, which he said had "led to significant economic harm for Scotland and the wider UK".

"It is my hope that, by strengthening our connectivity with European neighbours, we will be able to renew our relationships again."

Derek Sloan of Ptarmigan Shipping, who has previously acted as a lead promoter of the project, said the route could begin by late 2026, although 2027 now appears more likely.

It is not known if the potentially substantial UK and EU ETS fees (carbon emissions penalties) the long journey would incur are seen as dissuasive.