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Three times as many trucks for its birthday
Page 14
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A FERRY SERVICE between Scotland and Belgium has trebled its freight traffic in two years, despite initial fears that it cost too much and might not survive.
In its first year of operation the Superfast service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge carried only 11,000 freight vehicles, but over the past year this rose to 33,000.The service was two years old on 17 May. Attica, the Greek company that runs the ferry, says confidence has grown as hauliers realised that the service was here to stay. Project director Yannis Criticos says: "It took time to get established but things are now going very well. Our rates for hauliers have not risen
either, so in real terms costs have come down."
Gavin Scott, the Freight Transport Association's Scottish policy manager, says large hauliers may have been cautious about changing routes: "If they have happily been going from Hull or Dover for years then they may want to make sure it is to their advantage to change before they do so. There is not much doubt that many have now.The trend may continue, particularly if we trade more with the eastern European countries."
Sceptics had predicted that hauliers would make the trip to Dover or Hull rather than taking the 17.5hr crossing.