Rosyth - Zeebrugge ferry service

The ferry service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge is a freight-only service operated by DFDS. The current service replaced a passenger and freight service that was initially operated by Superfast Ferries between May 2002 and September 2008, and then by Norfolkline from 18 May 2009 until 15 December 2010. 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.

The route crosses the North Sea 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.

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Wikipedia