A direct ferry service between Rosyth and mainland Europe could return by spring 2026, offering a new route for travellers into Scotland and a faster, greener gateway to the Highlands.
Shipping company DFDS has proposed a combined passenger and freight route between Rosyth in Fife and Dunkirk in northern France.
The crossing would provide a vital alternative to congested ports in southern England and offer direct access for European visitors heading north.
The service is expected to carry over 50,000 passengers in its first year, rising to nearly 80,000 within five years.
Economic modelling suggests the route could add around £11.5 million annually to the Scottish economy.
A previous passenger ferry between Rosyth and Zeebrugge ended in 2010, with freight-only services continuing until 2018.
Since then, travellers and hauliers heading to Scotland from Europe have faced long detours through England.
The return of a direct route has been described by supporters as a chance to reconnect Scotland to Europe and to bring more visitors beyond the Central Belt and into rural areas, including the Highlands.
DFDS is working with partners under the name Project Brave, and says it is committed to launching the new service once remaining regulatory hurdles are cleared.
One key issue is border control.
EU rules require goods such as meat, dairy and plants to pass through a designated Border Control Post.
Building one at Rosyth was judged too costly, so DFDS has proposed using an existing BCP at Grangemouth, around 20 miles inland.
Talks are ongoing between the UK Government and EU officials to confirm whether this arrangement can be approved.
Recent regulatory changes may allow more flexibility.
If confirmed, the route could open in 2026 with up to three weekly sailings.
It would significantly reduce road miles for freight and provide a more direct option for European tourists, particularly motorcyclists, campervan travellers and cyclists who often avoid air travel.
Tourism leaders say the return of the ferry could reshape how visitors access the Highlands, with Rosyth acting as a landing point just a few hours south of the Cairngorms and the west coast.
Businesses across Fife, Perthshire and the north are backing the proposal, noting its potential to reduce emissions, support local supply chains, and spread the economic benefits of tourism beyond the Central Belt.
The route would also support Rosyth’s green freeport status, part of a wider economic development plan aiming to create up to 34,000 jobs across the region.
With political support building and commercial interest in place, the prospect of arriving in Scotland by ferry and heading straight for the open roads of the Highlands is once again on the horizon.
