HOPE remains high that a direct ferry service between Rosyth and Europe will come to fruition after the identity of a new prospective destination port was revealed.
Plans for the revival of sailings from West Fife had stalled due to a lack of "adequate berthing space" in Zeebrugge.
Last month, we reported that "high-level talks" were going on with another mainland port which has this now been identified as Dunkirk in France.
Derek Sloan, director at Ptarmigan Shipping who have signed an agreement with DFDS to "further investigate" the possibility of re-opening the route, said then that there was a "great deal of effort" going into the proposal which has been named Project Brave.
This week, Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman, who has been campaigning for the return of a ferry, welcomed the prospect of the link being created to France.
“Following the withdrawal of Zeebrugge, Derek has acted quickly to secure another port on the EU side," he said.
"Dunkirk is an even better option than Zeebrugge as it has a higher level of security and customs, a fabulous terminal for passengers and DFDS already have a huge presence there so they know the territory and have port networks in place.
“I remain hugely excited that this project will come to fruition.
"It’s been a long haul with many unnecessary barriers put in our way but to see Europe bound ferries sailing up and down the Forth will be the culmination of a hard fought campaign and, for me as local MP, will mean every minute spent on this campaign will have been time well spent.”
The route from Rosyth was last open to freight in 2018 when it was operated by DFDS but a fire on board its ship hastened the end as the company could not find a replacement and “lost all hope” of turning around losses.
The ferry last carried passenger services in 2010, eight years after it first began sailing.
