By Leeza Clark

HOPES THAT a new Rosyth to Norway ferry would be running this year have been scuppered by the withdrawal of Superfast’s Zeebrugge service.

Fife was dealt the blow yesterday with news that the planned link between Norway, Shetland, mainland Scotland and continental Europe had failed to secure Euro funding and will not now be operational until next year at the earliest.

A “technicality” in the application for Marco Polo funding for the Norshukon Link had sunk hopes that Rosyth would welcome the new route this year—compensating for the gap left by the final Superfast sailing this weekend.

While the formal detailed evaluation is still awaited, the Norshukon Link consortium believes it was not selected for funding simply due to a technicality in the application.

It is believed the glitch was caused because when John White, the consortium’s preferred operator, submitted the application no-one knew Superfast was to pull the plug on its Zeebrugge to Rosyth run.

Following correspondence received from the European Commission and discussions with the EU and UK government’s transport representatives, the Shetland businessman has been encouraged by the EC to resubmit a revised application in January.

Mr White, who ultimately wants to run two ships linking the four ports of Rosyth, Zeebrugge, Shetland and Kristiansund, said yesterday that he was very disappointed to have not succeeded in the funding process.

But he remained hopeful his application in January would be successful.

“Our application, which was submitted in April, was made prior to the announcement by Superfast that they were withdrawing from the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route this month.

“Not being aware of their withdrawal at the time of our submission presented issues of competition which we had to account for in our application,” he said.

However, Mr White, who would operate the Motorway of the Sea project aimed at removing freight from the roads, refused to dwell on yet another setback in the ambitious plans.

“A delay in the start of the service could bring about some benefits to the route as the new vessel that I was planning to introduce to the route later in 2009 will be the vessel which I now propose to start the route with.

“This vessel is larger and more efficient than the one that I would have used had we started this year so there is some benefit to be had from the delay,” he said.

Those behind the Norshukon Link—the Norwegian public and private consortium Moregruppen AS, South East of Scotland Transport Partnership, Shetland transport partnership ZetTrans and Shetland Development Trust—admitted it was a setback.

Speaking on behalf of the partners, Moregruppen chairman Rolf Kare Sether, could not hide his dissatisfaction at the delay.

“Like John White we are bitterly disappointed that we will not be seeing a service starting up this year.

“We remain fully committed to the project and the project partners will continue to support John as he prepares to resubmit his proposal in January,” he added.

SEStran also voiced its disappointment.

Chairman Russell Imrie said, “We are naturally disappointed at the delay but it was impossible to foresee that Superfast would withdraw from the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route.

“This presents issues of competition which John White could not account for in their application.

“The application will therefore be resubmitted in January, taking into account the new realities.

“SEStran remains committed to supporting the project which we believe has the potential to provide a major boost to the economy of south east Scotland.

“The new service will be able to make good use of the region’s excellent transportation links for onward transfer of freight.”

Long term supporter of Rosyth’s port, mid Scotland and Fife MSP John Park said, “Obviously I’m really disappointed that they didn’t make this round of funding but we need to be supporting any unsolicited approaches that Rosyth receives in the future.

“I’m really pleased that they (the Norshukon link) are going to go for funding next year and I would like to support them in any way that I can.”

Dunfermline East MSP Helen Eadie said, “This is a dire situation for Scotland.

“I want to know the reason why this funding application was not successful and will be asking my colleague Catherine Stihler MEP to get an investigation under way.

“Was it negligence on the part of this government or was it to do with the details of the business case?

“It feels like Scottish ministers have been sleeping all summer because there has not been an ounce of progress on this.

“It may be commercially sensitive but that does not reassure the public. The public want to know whether or not there is going to a ferry at Rosyth.

“I am livid there has been so little action from the government.

“The longer we go without a ferry service running from Rosyth the worse things are going to be because freight companies are tied into contracts and they are not going to risk their businesses.”

Speaking from Europe Mrs Stihler said she felt the Scottish Government had not given enough support to the consortium’s bid.

“I understand the project’s bid was put in before the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry issue became apparent but from the correspondence I have seen the Nationalist administration could have done a lot more,” she said

Fife Council’s executive director, environment and development services, Stuart Nichol, added, “We hope they have more success with future applications.”