Superfast Ferries - Perthshire's Gateway to Europe

Evelyn Hood reports on this comfortable, fast and accessible North Sea service.

Superfast Ferry

Direct access to the Continent by sea for passengers and freight from Scotland was a pipe dream that came true at last in May 2002 when Superfast Ferries launched their Rosyth to Zeebrugge service. Two very beautiful and ultra modern ferries make the crossing either way in 17½ hours.

The ships, the Superfast IX and the Superfast X were built in Kiel, Germany in 2001- 2002 and a brand new ferry terminal was built in record time next the Royal Naval Dockyard in the Port of Rosyth.

On a recent tour of the Superfast IX in Rosyth harbour, I kept thinking that the word "ferry" does nothing to convey the cruise liner feel of the ship and the quality of the on-board services provided.

It was not difficult to imagine how a holidaymaker could feel the holiday beginning the moment they step on board. Each ship is equipped with a range of restaurants, a children's play area, casino, disco, massage, jacuzzi and sauna facilities, as well as shops and a video games room. The cabins are of a range and standard I've never before seen on a ferry. There are cabins constructed specifically for use by physically disabled passengers. De luxe cabins include television, large viewing windows and room service. And particular care has been taken to provide excellent cabin and lounge facilities for long distance lorry and bus drivers.

I asked Tracie Logan, Sales Manager for Superfast Ferries at their Rosyth Terminal, who apart from tourists and holidaymakers were using the service.

"A broad range of firms," she replied. "More and more hauliers from all over Scotland are appreciating the advantages of the shorter driving distance on this side of the North Sea and the fact that when the transport arrives at the other side, Europe's major road networks begin within a very short distance of the port."

One regular user of the service is George McLaughlin of McLaughlin Transport (Perth) Ltd, Inchcape Place, North Muirton Industrial Estate. McLaughlin Transport carries seed potatoes, fruit stocks and fruit from local producers to continental Europe "My company finds the service very, very handy indeed," he told me. "Drivers are delighted with the service, too, and really like the way they are treated on board with the excellent accommodation, and their own lounge area. What's more, with the advent of the European Working Directive, even if an accompanying driver is travelling in the cab and is not driving, this will count as working time. Using this ferry service will then become an absolute necessity for Scottish hauliers if they want to stay in the long-haul business."

Also involved in exporting local foodstuffs is Jim Low of 4JA Transport Limited, Railway Road, Blairgowrie. 4JA, equipped with temperature-controlled vehicles, transport both fresh and frozen local fruit, meat and venison to all parts of Europe.

"Superfast Ferries" Jim Low enthused, "are providing a first class service for many reasons. First of all the access to the boat from the motorway system is easy. Drivers on the home side can load up then take their time off and rest to be refreshed and ready to start on a full driving shift on the other side. They can relax in comfort. The accommodation on board and the meals are excellent. Our drivers give it 100% - full marks. Just excellent! And on the continent Zeebrugge is an ideal port of entry for access to any part of Europe."

The convenience of Zeebrugge appeals to another regular user of the service. Company director Peter McCormack of Perthshire Caravan Co., Middlebank, Errol, explained that the company imports motorised caravans – mobile homes – which are built for them by Bürstner at Kehl in Germany just across the border from Strassbourg. Transporting new vehicles to Perthshire involved, until last year, 600 mile round trips to pick them up at Hull to where they had been sent by ferry from Zeebrugge. Peter is delighted with, in his own words, "the excellent service offered by Superfast. I opened an account with them just after they started, and we set up a system whereby Bürstner fax me to say a motor home is ready to be dispatched to Zeebrugge for loading. I fax Rosyth and they see to it that the vehicle is loaded and signal me when it is en route. All I then have to do is arrange to have it picked up at Rosyth. It truly is a first-class service with absolutely no problems."

P&J Haggart's of Haggart's Mill, Taybridge Terrace, Aberfeldy are famous for their fine cloth and country clothing and consider that attendance at Continental trade and country fairs is a vital part of their business.

Speaking on behalf of the company, director John Simpson gave me his impression of the Superfast Ferries service.

"We take out trade stand lorry to France and Germany and this Rosyth-Zeebrugge Ferry saves us a great number of miles and hours. We've found everything about the service excellent and we've been making a point of recommending it to customers and to people we meet on our visits to Europe. In fact, we've had people in the shop here in Aberfeldy who said they'd used the ferry and I know of one French party using it this spring on our recommendation."

And that last comment is an indication of the huge potential for growth in Perthshire's tourist industry that the presence of such a ferry service provides.

As Douglas Ritchie, Chief Executive of Perthshire Tourist Board, put it. "Direct access is the key to the success of inward tourism. We can publicise the attractions and facilities of an area but if it is seen as being awkward to get to, then it makes our job very difficult. The Superfast Ferries service makes it much easier to get here and is a key element in getting new people to visit Perthshire.

"We already have evidence of more first-time visitors who are using his route. Dutch and Belgian tour operators are bringing many more people in and the short breaks market is consequently on the rise. We are actively encouraging this area, working with accommodation providers who could link up with Superfast. The tourist and other business opportunities this ferry service could open up for Perthshire are exciting and challenging."

"One very satisfactory fact is the very positive feedback we have had from visitors using this service. There is a great deal of praise for the on-board comfort, the quality of the food, and the speed of the crossing."