Rosyth - Zeebrugge ferry service
Encyclopedia
The ferry service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge is a freight-only service operated by DFDS
. The current service replaces a passenger and freight service that was operated by Norfolkline
from 18 May 2009 until 15 December 2010 (and initially operated by Superfast Ferries
between May 2002 and September 2008). It is the only direct ferry route between Scotland
and Continental Europe
. On 20 August 2010 it was announced that the passenger service would end on 15 December 2010, although the freight-only service resumed shortly thereafter.
between Rosyth
, Fife
, Scotland and Zeebrugge
, Flanders
, Belgium
. Near Rosyth, the ferry passes under the Forth Bridge.
Following a detailed consultation and tendering process by the Scottish Executive
, the Greek
shipping company Superfast Ferries
(owned by the Attica
Group) were confirmed as the operator of the route. Services commenced in May 2002 using two ships - MS Superfast IX
and MS Superfast X - to provide an overnight service with a crossing time of 17 hours.
Whilst car traffic, particularly in the summer months, proved relatively good, concern mounted that there were insufficient lorries
and other freight traffic to make the service viable in the long term. The service was reduced to three times per week in 2005 and Superfast IX transferred to the Baltic Sea
.
In 2006, the sale of Superfast X was announced and the vessel was replaced with the smaller Blue Star I - of Superfast's sister company Blue Star Ferries (also owned by Attica). In 2008 it was announced that Superfast/Blue Star Ferries would discontinue the service in September.
announced that it would restart the route in May 2009, again using a thrice-weekly overnight service (but extended to 20 hours, rather than the previous 17 hours, to reduce fuel consumption).
Like Superfast, the Norfolkline service offered a service for both vehicle and foot passengers.
Norfolkline is a Netherlands
-based a subsidiary of the Danish
shipping company DFDS
and formerly of the Maersk Group. On 17 December 2009 DFDS announced that it had agreed to purchase Norfolkline from Maersk.
Norfolkline's vessel for the route was the MV Scottish Viking (which, despite the name, is registered in Italy
.)
On 5 August 2010 the vessel collided with a small fishing boat off the coast of Scotland, resulting in the loss of the fishing boat and the death in one of the two men aboard the fishing boat.
On 20 August 2010 it was announced that the passenger service would end on 15 December 2010, with the service being replaced by a DFDS freight-only ferry service. The replacement freight-only service is operated with two ferries the Tor Finlandia and the Cimbria Seaways with 4 departures per week.
Unless another operator recommences operations, there will again be no direct passenger ferry service between Scotland and continental Europe.
DFDS
DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede...
. The current service replaces a passenger and freight service that was operated by Norfolkline
Norfolkline
Norfolkline was a European ferry operator and logistics company owned by Maersk. It provided freight ferry services on the English channel, Irish Sea, and the North Sea; and passenger ferry services on the English channel and Irish Sea; and logistics services across Europe...
from 18 May 2009 until 15 December 2010 (and initially operated by Superfast Ferries
Superfast Ferries
Superfast Ferries is a Greece-based ferry company founded in 1993 by Pericles Panagopulos and Alexander Panagopulos. Superfast Ferries is a member of Attica Group and operates 5 ultra-modern car-passenger ferries, offering daily connections between Ancona and Bari and Patras and Igoumenitsa...
between May 2002 and September 2008). It is the only direct ferry route between Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
. On 20 August 2010 it was announced that the passenger service would end on 15 December 2010, although the freight-only service resumed shortly thereafter.
Route
The route crosses the North SeaNorth Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
between Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, Scotland and Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
, Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Near Rosyth, the ferry passes under the Forth Bridge.
Superfast Ferries
Scottish Executive
The Scottish Government is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was established in 1999 as the Scottish Executive, from the extant Scottish Office, and the term Scottish Executive remains its legal name under the Scotland Act 1998...
, the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
shipping company Superfast Ferries
Superfast Ferries
Superfast Ferries is a Greece-based ferry company founded in 1993 by Pericles Panagopulos and Alexander Panagopulos. Superfast Ferries is a member of Attica Group and operates 5 ultra-modern car-passenger ferries, offering daily connections between Ancona and Bari and Patras and Igoumenitsa...
(owned by the Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
Group) were confirmed as the operator of the route. Services commenced in May 2002 using two ships - MS Superfast IX
MS Superfast IX
MV Atlantic Vision is a fast ro-pax ferry owned by the Estonian ferry company Tallink, under charter to the Canada-based Marine Atlantic. As of 2009 she is operated on Marine Atlantic's service between Port aux Basques and/or Argentia, Newfoundland and North Sydney, Nova Scotia.The ship was built...
and MS Superfast X - to provide an overnight service with a crossing time of 17 hours.
Whilst car traffic, particularly in the summer months, proved relatively good, concern mounted that there were insufficient lorries
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
and other freight traffic to make the service viable in the long term. The service was reduced to three times per week in 2005 and Superfast IX transferred to the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
.
In 2006, the sale of Superfast X was announced and the vessel was replaced with the smaller Blue Star I - of Superfast's sister company Blue Star Ferries (also owned by Attica). In 2008 it was announced that Superfast/Blue Star Ferries would discontinue the service in September.
Norfolkline
The decision to axe the route caused considerable political disquiet in Scotland. The Scottish Government sought to encourage a new operator to take over the route. In late 2008 NorfolklineNorfolkline
Norfolkline was a European ferry operator and logistics company owned by Maersk. It provided freight ferry services on the English channel, Irish Sea, and the North Sea; and passenger ferry services on the English channel and Irish Sea; and logistics services across Europe...
announced that it would restart the route in May 2009, again using a thrice-weekly overnight service (but extended to 20 hours, rather than the previous 17 hours, to reduce fuel consumption).
Like Superfast, the Norfolkline service offered a service for both vehicle and foot passengers.
Norfolkline is a Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
-based a subsidiary of the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
shipping company DFDS
DFDS
DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede...
and formerly of the Maersk Group. On 17 December 2009 DFDS announced that it had agreed to purchase Norfolkline from Maersk.
Norfolkline's vessel for the route was the MV Scottish Viking (which, despite the name, is registered in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.)
On 5 August 2010 the vessel collided with a small fishing boat off the coast of Scotland, resulting in the loss of the fishing boat and the death in one of the two men aboard the fishing boat.
On 20 August 2010 it was announced that the passenger service would end on 15 December 2010, with the service being replaced by a DFDS freight-only ferry service. The replacement freight-only service is operated with two ferries the Tor Finlandia and the Cimbria Seaways with 4 departures per week.
Unless another operator recommences operations, there will again be no direct passenger ferry service between Scotland and continental Europe.