While travelling on water for 20 hours might not be everyone’s cup of tea, this is how long it would take to get from Scotland to France on the ferry. DFDS is set to introduce a new ferry service between Rosyth and Dunkirk for the first time. However, it hasn’t started running yet, as it depends on the “willingness to address at pace the components of effective border control which remain reserved” of the UK Government.
Danish company DFDS has initially proposed the new service in 2022, which ended up not going far due to lack of funds. However, ‘Project Brave’ is being reintroduced as early as 2026 with the funding issue having now been resolved.
The journey between Scotland and France could become one of the longest ferry journeys in Europe, running three times a week and taking 20 hours in total. Currently, the longest ferry journey is from Portsmouth to Bilbao in Spain, which lasts between 27 and 30 hours.
The new route could provide an environmentally friendly way to travel to the continent, bringing significant economic benefits to the country.
Speaking in Westminster last November, Scottish MP Graeme Downie proposed that £3 million in funding was needed to start up the service.
He said: ‘It is estimated the direct ferry link would initially carry 51,000 passengers a year, rising to 79,000, bringing an additional £11.5 million of spend to the Scottish economy.’
Mr Fairlie said: “This is a strategically important trade route for Scotland, particularly for our agricultural sector and it is imperative that we do all we can to counter the negative impact we are experiencing to Scottish exports following our removal from the European Union.”
Policy director Martin Reid said: “Although the journey time would rule out some perishable goods movements, there are many products that are not as time bound and could therefore be moved via Rosyth.”
Maritime expert Dr Alf Baird said: “Dunkirk is not ideal for the German market, which is arguably the main market for passengers and freight [Scotland’s second largest for overseas tourists after the US], and involves a longer route than to a Dutch or Belgian port.”
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell said: “I asked the First Minister at First Minister’s Questions back in June about the lack of progress then and he offered assurances that the [Scottish] Government would welcome the ferry route and would do everything they could to remove any obstacles that are in the way.”
“It is imperative this project goes ahead as quickly as possible. Whilst I understand that due process must be followed, I’m concerned that opening a consultation ‘soon’ with the hope for legislative change ahead of the next election – less than six months away – with a growing backlog in the Scottish Parliament, that this will be very tough ask.”
“The appetite is there from Fife communities, from industry, from Westminster and Scottish exporters. We need the Scottish Government to prioritise this work to reduce the climate impact of transporting freight and for the local and national impact it would bring.”
However, DFDS has not yet confirmed their progress regarding the new route.
In the past, Scotland had a similar service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge in Belgium, initially launching in 2002 and discontinued in 2008. The service was picked back up in 2009 only to be cancelled again, and the freight-only service was discontinued in 2018.