By Lars Niven

THE DAILY ferry service between Scotland and Belgium is to be cut back to just three sailings a week, Greek-based operators Superfast Ferries announced yesterday.

Launched just three-and-a-half years ago the roll-on, roll-off service will operate just three days a week from Rosyth in Fife and from Zeebrugge on the other side of the North Sea.

The company said it was switching one of the ferries to the service it runs between Germany and Finland in a bid to make its northern European fleet more profitable.

Low freight figures have been blamed for the daily service’s lack of success.

Despite the setback the company said it had no plans to pull out of Scotland.

Yannis Criticos, the company’s North Sea director, told The Courier last night that they had been considering the move for a year or so.

“We have taken the decision to reduce the ferry service to three sailings each week from each port,” he said.

“That doesn’t reduce the capacity, because there has always been some spare capacity. We feel confident we will be able to serve the needs of this particular market with a new schedule.”

Mr Criticos admitted the Rosyth to Zeebrugge service had experienced a difficult start, but said the company was in for the long haul.

“It was a very challenging start, but we are maintaining our presence in Scotland and this our fifth season operating the route. We are there to stay.”

He added that the company believed placing an additional vessel on the Baltic route would enhance the performance of the company’s northern European fleet.

The service was launched in a blaze of publicity in May 2002 following a £10 million public investment in redeveloping the port of Rosyth.

While the service attracted plenty of tourists, carrying as much freight as possible was always going to be key to the route’s survival.

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive expressed disappointment at the announcement.

“The Transport Minister (Nicol Stephen) has been in touch with the company and officials from the Executive and Scottish Enterprise have been engaged in extensive discussions with the company,” he said.

“Financial support was provided to assist with starting up the service and a further funding contribution within the strict parameters set within state aid rules was offered to Superfast.

“The Executive hopes that over time it will prove possible to restore the level of service that has been offered to date.”

A spokeswoman for Scottish Enterprise said, “We are disappointed that Superfast Ferries have decided to reduce the frequency of their service to continental Europe. We have been working with the company and other interested parties in Scotland to assess all possible options to maintain the current level of service.

The spokeswoman added, “However, Superfast has taken the commercial decision to reduce the frequency of sailings for the year ahead as being the most sustainable way forward for…their service.”

Dunfermline East MSP Helen Eadie said she would be seeking a meeting with Labour colleagues at the Scottish Executive as soon as possible.

“I am certainly very concerned at the announcement and we can’t take our eye off this one,” she said.

“People always acclaim the service, but I understand it was always very much dependent on the issue of freight.

“If there is an issue there then we need to sit down and discuss that with the powers that be.

“I will certainly be discussing this with my colleagues, including (Dunfermline West MSP) Scott Barrie, because we certainly can’t just sit back and let this happen.”

Bruce Crawford, SNP MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, called for everyone with an interest in the project to pull together to ensure its survival.

“It is hugely disappointing news,” he said.

“All of Scotland got behind this service, both from a tourism and economic perspective.

“It is disappointing because my understanding is that freight and tourist numbers were up.

“I would encourage the Scottish Executive to get involved in early discussions with Superfast and everyone should be pulling to get this service back up and running by next spring…

“If this all starts to come apart the danger is potential expansion into other areas, particularly Scandinavia, may not come to pass and that would be a crying shame, both in terms of tourism and the economy.”

Stuart Nichol, Fife Council’s strategic manager with responsibility for environment and development said, “We are extremely shocked and disappointed at this news.

“To the best of our knowledge this was a profitable route with one boat sailing daily in each direction.

“Fife Council was not aware of any difficulties being encountered in the operation of these services.

“We are committed to finding a way forward and want to work closely with Superfast in order to try and return to the level of service presently being provided.

“A direct ferry link to Europe such as this is vital for Fife, south-east Scotland and the Scottish economy.”