ROSYTH-ZEEBRUGGE ROUTE SECURED FOR THE FUTURE
DFDS Seaways, the Scottish Government and Forth Ports signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which they agree to continue the Rosyth-Zeebrugge freight shipping service under the management of DFDS Seaways
“We are very pleased to be able to continue this freight route for the benefit of our customers, for whom it was important to safeguard their transport business between Belgium and Scotland. We have always been very committed to this route and we are very satisfied that with good dialogue with the Scottish Government and Forth Ports we were able to find a solution to maintain the service in light of the forthcoming sulphur requirements, which will pose enormous challenges for the transport industry,” says Niels Smedegaard, CEO of DFDS, who signed the agreement today with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and CEO Charles Hammond of Forth Ports.
Increasing capacity on the route
Rosyth-Zeebrugge will continue to be the only freight service between Scotland and Continental Europe. DFDS Seaways will maintain its existing sailing schedule, with the vessel FINLANDIA SEAWAYS offering three departures in each direction per week. In addition to this, DFDS Seaways and Forth Ports are pleased to announce that infrastructure improvements at the Rosyth terminal will allow double-stacking of containers on board the vessel. This decision will increase freight capacity, as requested by our Scottish and Continental customers.
Senior Vice President Kell Robdrup adds: “We would like to thank all stakeholders involved for their continued support for this environmentally-friendly mode of transport and we look forward to welcoming additional customers making use of the only ferry service directly linking the Continent and Scotland”.