By Leeza Clark

A SLUGGISH Scottish economy is to blame for the reduction in ferry services from Rosyth, SNP MSP Bruce Crawford claimed yesterday.

“People may be pointing fingers at Superfast, but the real problem lies with the economy, which cannot compete with the likes of Finland,” he said.

Last week Superfast Ferries, the Greek-based operators of the service from Fife to the continent, announced the daily service would be reduced from next month.

There would be only three sailings a week from Rosyth and three from Zeebrugge in Belgium, using only one of the two ferries used on the route since its launch three and a half years ago.

The second ferry would be put to use on the service Superfast runs from Finland to Germany in an attempt to make its northern European fleet more profitable.

It is believed that the existing two vessels on the Hanko to Rostock route are operating at capacity while there is rising demand on a route from Rostock to the port of Uusikaupur in Finland.

Freight traffic between Finland and Germany is increasing while low freight figures have been blamed for the lack of success of the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route.

“It seems the reason the company has switched to the Baltic is to beef up its expanding Finland to Germany service,” said the MSP. “Scotland is just not competing with some countries like Finland, and our economy is too slow.

“Finland has about the same population as Scotland, but has a much more difficult trading position in terms of location.

“However, they have policies there which do much for the economy of Finland and they are moving forward on a very strong basis while our economy is much more sluggish.

“It is time the Scottish Executive drew lessons from Finland to get economic growth on to similar levels,” he added.

While last week’s news was disheartening for Mr Crawford, he vowed to work to try to get the Rosyth service expanded once again.

“While it is tempting to have a go at the Greeks, we are trying to work together to get a return—if Superfast can feel the Scottish economy is going in the right direction and there is an increase in freight traffic,” he added.