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| Ferry firm to axe Rosyth service | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A ferry firm running services from Scotland to continental Europe is to stop operating out of Rosyth, the company has confirmed. | A ferry firm running services from Scotland to continental Europe is to stop operating out of Rosyth, the company has confirmed. |
| Superfast Ferries runs daily from Rosyth in Fife to Zeebrugge in Belgium. | Superfast Ferries runs daily from Rosyth in Fife to Zeebrugge in Belgium. |
| The Greece-based company said the service would end in mid-September. Sources blamed fuel costs and passenger numbers for the decision. | The Greece-based company said the service would end in mid-September. Sources blamed fuel costs and passenger numbers for the decision. |
| The Scottish Government said it was "disappointed" as it was "a commercially successful service". | The Scottish Government said it was "disappointed" as it was "a commercially successful service". |
| Fleet deployment | Fleet deployment |
| The service was launched six years ago and the crossing to the Belgian port takes about 18 hours. | The service was launched six years ago and the crossing to the Belgian port takes about 18 hours. |
| It saves passengers and truckers having to drive via Hull or the English Channel ports. | It saves passengers and truckers having to drive via Hull or the English Channel ports. |
| Each ferry can carry more than 1,000 passengers, 120 cars and 100 commercial vehicles. | Each ferry can carry more than 1,000 passengers, 120 cars and 100 commercial vehicles. |
| A statement from the company's board of directors said: "We regret to announce the discontinuation of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service as of 14 September, 2008." | A statement from the company's board of directors said: "We regret to announce the discontinuation of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service as of 14 September, 2008." |
| The company said that the vessel which operates on the route will be redeployed in other markets where it currently operates. | The company said that the vessel which operates on the route will be redeployed in other markets where it currently operates. |
| Scottish Ministers are strongly committed to the continuation of this route, and will pursue all viable options to achieve continuity of a commercially operated service Transport MinisterStewart Stevenson | Scottish Ministers are strongly committed to the continuation of this route, and will pursue all viable options to achieve continuity of a commercially operated service Transport MinisterStewart Stevenson |
| Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said the decision was "very disappointing". | Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said the decision was "very disappointing". |
| He said: "We have been working closely with Superfast's parent company Attica to persuade them to continue to operate the route, as have Forth Ports. Ultimately this is a commercial decision for the company. | He said: "We have been working closely with Superfast's parent company Attica to persuade them to continue to operate the route, as have Forth Ports. Ultimately this is a commercial decision for the company. |
| "Scottish Ministers are strongly committed to the continuation of this route, and will pursue all viable options to achieve continuity of a commercially operated service." | "Scottish Ministers are strongly committed to the continuation of this route, and will pursue all viable options to achieve continuity of a commercially operated service." |
| He said the government would seek to identify an alternative commercial operator for the service. | He said the government would seek to identify an alternative commercial operator for the service. |
| Russell Imrie, South East Scotland Transport Partnership (Sestran) chairman, said the decision was "difficult to understand on commercial grounds". | Russell Imrie, South East Scotland Transport Partnership (Sestran) chairman, said the decision was "difficult to understand on commercial grounds". |
| He said: "The ferry is currently operating at capacity and actually turning away potential business. | He said: "The ferry is currently operating at capacity and actually turning away potential business. |
| "The loss of the ferry link will inevitably impact upon the economy of the region, and that of Scotland as a whole, as travellers and freight companies seek access to ferry services elsewhere." | "The loss of the ferry link will inevitably impact upon the economy of the region, and that of Scotland as a whole, as travellers and freight companies seek access to ferry services elsewhere." |
| Potential marketplace | |
| A spokesman for Forth Ports said: "This is disappointing news as the ferry link is an important part of Scotland's access to European markets. | A spokesman for Forth Ports said: "This is disappointing news as the ferry link is an important part of Scotland's access to European markets. |
| "Our own analysis shows that the route could easily attract 60,000 freight units, within a potential marketplace of 200,000 freight units, making this a viable, profitable route for an operator with the right mix of vessels and frequency of sailings." | "Our own analysis shows that the route could easily attract 60,000 freight units, within a potential marketplace of 200,000 freight units, making this a viable, profitable route for an operator with the right mix of vessels and frequency of sailings." |
| The Lib Dem MSP for Dunfermline West, Jim Tolson, said: "This is a devastating blow to industry and the local economy in Fife." | The Lib Dem MSP for Dunfermline West, Jim Tolson, said: "This is a devastating blow to industry and the local economy in Fife." |
| The leader of Fife Council, Peter Grant, said the area would "sorely miss" the benefits the ferry brought. | |
| He said the council would make whatever contribution it could to "bring this ferry link back to life". | |
| "There is still a great future for the port as a main gateway to Europe and I'm grateful for the work done by the Scottish Government to maintain this link so far," he said. | |
| Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, John Park, urged the Scottish Government to find an alternative provider as quickly as possible. |