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Superfast too hasty over freight traffic?
Page 12
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• Directors of Superfast—which launched the Scottish ferry service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge last year—have admitted they were over-optimistic about the number of hauliers that wanted to switch ports.
The Greek-owned Superfast company has been running overnight sailings since May last year—the service is Scotland's only direct and regular ferry link with Continental Europe.
Last week, Superfast reported that freight traffic had hit record levels in July and that it is on schedule to meet its freight targets in the autumn. However, the company declined to give specific figures because of commercial confidentiality. Management has admitted that while passenger numbers have climbed steadily, more work needs to be done to woo hauliers. Freight director Steve Addison says: "We were rather too optimistic about how fast haulage firms could be converted immediately after the service was launched."
The Road Haulage Association (RNA) is continuing to support the service and is holding a meeting for local members on board the ferry today (14 August).
RHA regional officer Phil Flanders says the service is important to the Scottish economy.
"We supported Superfast when it was launched on 17 May last year and this meeting is to show that we continue to support it," says Flanders.
The crossing to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge takes more than 17 hours and saves operators having to drive via Hull or the English Channel ports.