Euro ferry 'could create 1500 jobs'

High speed ferries would operate on the route

A new ferry service from Scotland to mainland Europe could create 1500 jobs, an official announcement is expected to say next week.

The announcement is expected to confirm that a new superfast ferry from Rosyth in Fife could be running by spring 2002.

A Scottish Enterprise feasibility concluded there was a demand for twice daily sailings to Belgium or The Netherlands from Rosyth near Dunfermline.

It is the second boost for the beleaguered Fife port in recent months.

It comes just months after the dockyard was awarded a £75m contract to refit Royal Navy frigates.

Gordon Brown: Good news

The order could secure work at the yard for four years.

More details of the ferry project will be announced on Friday by Forth Ports, who operate Rosyth.

It is believed the Superfast Ferries firm are to transfer one of their fleet of roll-on, roll-off vessels to Scotland next week on a trial basis.

Forth Ports plan to start development at Rosyth later this summer.

Chancellor of the Exchequer and Dunfermline East MP Gordon Brown, has already had talks with Forth Ports.

He has given the proposals his full backing.

Ro-ro ferries

He said: "The prospect of a ferry terminal operating from Rosyth is good news for the Scottish economy.

"That's both in terms of our trade links as well as for business and jobs."

He said the Labour government was committed to full employment.

"We must work hard to bring projects like ro-ro ferries to Scotland if we are to achieve it."

The ferry service depends on a new breed of fast ferry not yet seen in Britain, covering the 400 mile crossing at speeds of up to 30 knots.