Superfast Exit for Zeebrugge to Edinburgh Ferry

What started as a direct fast link between the continent and mainland Scotland ends already after seven years. The Scotsman reports today that the service will end on Saturday 13 September 2008. The Greek firm Superfast claimed that it wasn't making enough money. As a regular mainland to Scotland traveler I must admit this never proved to be a good alternative, at least not for people living in the Netherlands. The services between Hoek van Holland - Harwich, Hull - Europoort and Ijmuiden - New Castle and even the Eurotunnel and Calais to Dover ferry services were there a long time before Superfast Ferries started their venture. Despite the growth in tourism they didn't profit enough and cheap flight are probably one of the reasons for their lack of financial outcome. A short note on the website of Superfast Ferries is all the information there is available. A quote from the article of the Scotsman:

The only sea link between the Scottish mainland and Europe will end on Saturday without a replacement operator in sight. Forth Ports is in talks with a number of operators with a view to taking over the seven-year-old route but nothing has come to fruition so far. The Netherlands-based operator Norfolkline also said it is weeks away from deciding whether or not it will pursue the Rosyth link. Kell Robdrup, managing director of Norfolkline, said: "We are looking at the possibility of a Zeebrugge to Rosyth service, but we have still to take a decision. "We are always looking for new opportunities, but this is not an obvious choice for us." The Superfast service started in 2001 and was heralded as a great boost for Scotland's tourism and freight industries. A £20 million terminal was built in Rosyth, using around £12m of public money. Alastair Short, policy manager with Sestran, said: "The loss of the Superfast link is a big blow, and we are hopeful that a replacement can be found in the shortest time possible.