Another direct ferry between Zeebrugge and Scotland?
The intention is to initially focus on freight traffic and later also to transport passengers.
Conversations are in progress
There was already a connection between Zeebrugge and Rosyth, until a fire broke out on the ferry Finlandia Seaways in 2018. Ferry company DFDS threw in the towel after the fire, because it could not find a replacement for the ship and because the financial hangover was too great. The Flemish government now hopes to restore the connection, which “would lead to major economic opportunities for both destinations”, according to Jambon. The talks are ongoing, the will from Flanders is definitely there, says his spokesperson.
On the Scottish side, Derek Sloan of Ptarmigan Shipping is responsible for the negotiations. He is convinced that ferries will be able to sail between Scotland and Flanders again next year. He declined to say which company would be responsible for the service and what a future deal will look like.
“The idea of a direct ferry link is part of the Scottish Government’s sustainable policy of taking lorries off the road, and offers opportunities for both freight traffic and tourism,” says Sloan. “The ferry connection would also offer a solution to the shortage of truck drivers.” Today, a large part of the import to Scotland goes through the English ports, 25 percent of which, according to Sloan, could pass via the new ferry connection.
“Every logistics operation costs money, so a direct connection to Scotland can only be beneficial,” said Dirk Verlee, the Flemish economic representative in the UK. In addition, logistics often acts as the engine of economic activity, “the multiplier effect can be large”.
“Major role for Zeebrugge”
Prime Minister Jambon wants to make Flanders the gateway to the UK more than ever. The Port of Antwerp Bruges – the recently merged ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge – plays a major role in this.
The port handles more than 32 million tonnes of traffic between the UK and Belgium and the merger “will allow both ports to respond even faster and more effectively to social and technological developments, such as energy transition, innovation and digitalisation, and to make the supply chain not only more efficient but also safer and more reliable”.