The incredible £3 million ferry route, likely one of Europe's longest, connects the UK to its beautiful European destinations.
Plans to launch Project Brave, which has been lying pending since 2022, are reportedly expected to launch by spring 2025. The project aims to launch passenger and freight ferries between Scotland and France. The planned service will offer three return sailings per week between Rossis near Edinburgh and Dunkirk, France.
Insufficient financial support from both the Scottish and British governments has led to new efforts to restore the ferry link following previous delays in January.
The proposal for the so-called “Project Brave” ferry service first came to light in 2022, but it stagnated due to a lack of funding.
The initiative aims to restore important transport links previously provided by ferry services between Rosyth in Scotland and Zeebrugge in Belgium.
The route, which operated both passengers and freight between 2002 and 2018, was aborted after firing on one of the DFDS ferry ships.
The ferry operator, DFDS, has shown an appetite to restart services, recognizing the possibility of increasing transport connectivity.
Reviving the route not only benefits passengers and freight movements, but also boosts trade, tourism and economic growth between the UK and mainland Europe.
If the service is introduced, the journey will take approximately 20 hours, making it one of the longest ferry routes in Europe.
Currently, the longest intersection is between Portsmouth, England and Bilbao, Spain, and takes 27-30 hours.
Tourists can take advantage of this route as they can accommodate vehicles at the intersection and may provide more flexibility at the other end.
“We've been working hard to get into the world,” said Neale Hanvey, former leader of the ALBA party. “The industry agrees and ferry operators are ready to deliver routes, but the Scottish government doesn't have the courage to support the bravery of the project.
“What can we do to encourage the Scottish government to invest a modest amount of pump prime funds to realize the economic and environmental benefits felt throughout the UK?”
