New £3m ferry linking UK to mainland Europe poised to launch in months

A new £3million ferry linking the UK to mainland Europe could be launched in a matter of months. 

The UK Government is set to discuss providing funding to reinstate the ferry link between Scotland and mainland Europe. 

The route could be in place as soon as Spring 2025, taking passengers on return trips from Rosyth to Dunkirk three times a week, according to reports in The National. 

Talks to re-establish the route were paused in January due to a “lack of financial support” from governments in both Holyrood and Westminster.

Now, however, the local Labour MP Graeme Downie has told Scottish outlet The National he is set to hold a meeting with the Treasury “as quickly as possible”, to discuss using the National Wealth Fund to upgrade the Rosyth port and bring it up to the necessary standard for the route to open in the Spring.

He said during a debate in Westminster on Tuesday night: “The National Wealth Fund would appear to me to be the ideal opportunity for this government to take the lead on developing the facilities at Rosyth that are needed to make that happen.

“It is estimated that a direct ferry link would carry 51,000 passengers per year, rising to 79,000 and bring an additional 11.5 million spend to the Scottish economy each year on freight.

“I’ve spoken to major employers in the constituency, including Amazon and MOWI, who have both said they would welcome this ferry link as it would help their contribution to the local economy.”

Assistant whip and Labour MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West Martin McCluskey, speaking on behalf of the Government, said he was aware that the Chancellor had already responded to Mr Downie’s request for state funding.

He added that he would be “delighted to assist in engaging with the National Wealth Fund”.