Potential new Scottish ferry service

[Gellyneck]

The following on BBC Scotland news this morning.

Ferry route planned from Scotland to Netherlands

The service from Rosyth to Eemshaven could be operating by the end of the year.

www.bbc.co.uk

Rosyth to Eemshaven in Northern Netherlands as opposed to the previous Superfast service that went into Zeebrugge.
Currently looking at freight but discussions ongoing around passenger traffic.

 

[Candapack]

Interesting, great for us if it happens, we live 10 minutes from Rosyth.
But my understanding was that Super fast failed because freight operators didn't use it enough.

 

[Gellyneck]

Interesting, great for us if it happens, we live 10 minutes from Rosyth.
But my understanding was that Super fast failed because freight operators didn't use it enough.

Yip, and this venture is also saying it hopes to get whisky onboard.
The service will need to be highly cost and security competitive as a few days saving in transit vs a steel container, given that it's beeen lying around for a minimum of three years, isn't that great an incentive.

 

[Bonkers the Dog]

It would be great, but the last one went belly up through poor use. How do they plan on avoid the same traps? Its about two hours from where I live south of Glasgow, but then so is Newcastle an already well established and no doubt profitable operation.

Perhaps they should follow the Ryan air/Easy jet model? Pare it down, no frills, reduced staff commitment/ very fast turnarounds/on-line booked travel only in an effort to trim off all the fat and make the opertation as lean as is humanly possible. And be sure to chose your price point carefully!

And a route over to Scandinavia might temp folks as well...

 

[Grianan]

I was just thinking we absolutely need a freight (and ideally passenger) route from Scptland. Really glad it’s in discussion.

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[WillH]

I don't think it'll work. If it were viable one of the established ferry operators would have moved in, unless the Scottish Government are waving a wedge of cash at it.

 

[Ivory55]

Do they need give a subsidy to calmac for the island ferry service so I guess it’s the same sort of thing.

 

[Bonkers the Dog]

Calmac gets 50% subsidy. Its a disgrace, if a company can't make a go a of it then why should we as taxpayers subsidise them? It's either viable or not. Calmac is also run like a personal fiefdom by some of the management and couldn't survive without either the subsidy or regular help from independent advisors; they are useless. Have been for decades.

I think they could make a run at it if they don't have the huge bloated overheads of the major operator's and didn't sail unless they had a full boat, so one crossing a day or less to restrict costs and increase demand. Either they fill to near capacity or it won't be profitable.

 

[irnbru]

I remember many years ago looking into the cost of travelling from Rosyth to Zubreggee. It certainly wasn't within my budget even taking a so called aeroplane seat. It would need to be very competitive for it to take off travelling with a motorhome. We can live in hope. No frills would do just fine.

 

[Bonkers the Dog]

Hear ya, having recently taken an eight meter Pilote to both Amsterdam and Ireland I can attest that's it no cheap, particularly the Irland run, £400 return for a two hour round trip is a bit steep. I can't help feel that they are operating a cartel to keep the prices high due to a lack of choice; perhaps the Scottish Government, and UK for that matter, should be checking that.

Also, P&O is a bit of a bloated monster. I used to work for them on board and they were over staffed and ran near empty half the time. Their old Townsend Thorensen ferries were Always breaking down, they were shagged already when P&O picked them up for a song after the Zebrugge disaster. They only gave them a fresh coat of paint but all the TT branded fittings were still inside! Bunch of chancers...

I Think if a competitor came in with a sound business plan, lean and hungry and ready to do what was necessary they could catch the big boys napping.

Heres hoping anyway...

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[WillH]

CalMac get a 70% subsidy from the Scottish Government, P&O and Stena Line get nothing. The Rosyth/Continental link is, in my opinion, non-viable without a hefty subsidy.

 

[andy63]

if a company can't make a go a of it then why should we as taxpayers subsidise them?

that is a fair point , but Id put it to you that very few of the Scottish island routes would or could be profitable unless subsidies are paid to the operators.. the road equivalent tariff or whatever its called has brought down the cost of travel to most Scottish islands and has seen an increase in both passenger and vehicle use... whether that increase is enough to keep all the routes viable remains to be seen.. and not least there are the inhabitants of those islands who in most cases , if they don't receive a reliable and regular service will up sticks and leave the island ..

 

[lorger]

Calmac gets 50% subsidy. Its a disgrace, if a company can't make a go a of it then why should we as taxpayers subsidise them?

Just like most bus services in Scotland as they’re all subsided or we’d have very little public transport to small village and towns, the islanders will use some ferries daily like we use busses

 

[Baileysbus]

I remember many years ago looking into the cost of travelling from Rosyth to Zubreggee. It certainly wasn't within my budget even taking a so called aeroplane seat. It would need to be very competitive for it to take off travelling with a motorhome. We can live in hope. No frills would do just fine.

Good point. We’re about 15mins away from Rosyth so it would be great for us. But like you say, the last service was extortionate and it was still cheaper to head down to Dover/Folkestone instead ...... and by a substantial amount ?. No frills works for me too. If it’s reasonably priced we’d deffo use it.

 

[irnbru]

It could be like a mini cruise combined

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[Grianan]

Coming out of Europort last week it’s massive. After B, the UK desperately needs the capacity to take more and bigger ships ... I wonder why they’re thinking of North Holland/German border rather than the south ... it’s a fairly long drive to hit France/Spain from there.

 

[Ivory55]

Just like most bus services in Scotland as they’re all subsided or we’d have very little public transport to small village and towns, the islanders will use some ferries daily like we use busses

If there was not subsides for the island ferry imagine what the cost of food etc would be there.