Published: Thursday, 22nd July, 2010 7:00am

Plain sailing for ferry after £330m takeover

by Matt Meade

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A REVITALISED Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service could be under way after shipping giant DFDS Seaways completed its £330 million acquisition of Norfolkline.

A spokesperson for the Danish firm told the Press they would be "looking to improve services" on the route, which currently sails three times a week to Belgium.

She said, "The service is going to carry on as normal and a further announcement will be made in September.

"Obviously we'll be looking to improve services rather than taking them away."

Devdeep Dahiya, a project coordinator at DFDS, added, "Rosyth to Zeebrugge is an important route for the Dunfermline area which will now be operated by DFDS Seaways.

"The acquisition of Norfolkline by DFDS is a strategic union of companies which enables a stronger sea-based as well as land-based route network.

"We will continue to provide a quality service for our customers and hope that travellers will take advantage of our wide range of travel options."

Dunfermline East MSP Helen Eadie welcomed the deal which will see a full integration and re-branding process completed by the end of 2011.

She told the Press, "Only on Saturday night I was actually trying to get a booking but it was sold-out so I have to go to Newcastle instead.

"So I was pleasantly surprised because the fear is people are not using the service.

"I'm now feeling positive and hopeful that we will have a continuation of the ferry from Rosyth because it's a popular route.

"I share the aspiration with DFDS for the service so am pleased that they will continue to maintain a long relationship with this area and wish them well."

The Rosyth-Zeebrugge route was first launched in May 2002 by Superfast after years of negotiations and large-scale EU funding.

There was shock when the Greek firm pulled out six years later, blaming the strength of the euro against the pound, soaring fuel prices and lower than hoped for levels of freight traffic for the decision.

Dutch company Norfolkline then relaunched the service in Spring 2009.

Plans of the new DFDS-Norfolkline deal were first announced in December last year.

At the time Søren Skou, of AP Møller/Mærsk - the firm of which Norfolkline are a subsidiary - said, "DFDS and Norfolkline are a very good match and we are very pleased with this transaction.

"We have identified both operational and commercial synergies, which will create value for the owners, and we look forward to becoming a major shareholder in DFDS."

A revitalised service could also prove a boost for local businesses.

Hank John, of Caledonia Travel, Inverkeithing, said, "It's a lovely route and it was such big business for us. I would love to see it back (to what it was) again.

"I'm kind of hoping that there will be an improved service in the sense that maybe they could get a better ship. The ambience of the ships before was much nicer.

"I don't want to knock the service we have at the moment but it's not comparable to the first or even second ships we had in the last few years.

"If DFDS have a better ship in the stable to put in the route I'm sure it will encourage more traffic."

DFDS has confirmed that its acquisition will increase the company to a 6000-employee, 63-ship operation with an estimated annual turnover of £1.2billion.