The three bridges over the Firth of Forth from Rosyth – geograph.org.uk – 7824997 · Martin Dawes · CC BY-SA 2.0 · edited
The planned ferry between Rosyth in Scotland and Dunkirk in France will not go ahead. Port operator Forth Ports confirmed on Wednesday 16 September 2026 that talks to restart a European passenger service from Rosyth “have not been able to be concluded” and that the service “will not restart,” STV News reported.
Ferry company DFDS had been in talks to run the route. Its head of global media relations, Dennis Kjærsgaard Sørensen, told The Connexion that DFDS expects “the project to come to an end.”
If you had pencilled in a direct overnight sailing from Scotland to the continent, the practical answer is that no such ferry is coming. For planning a trip once you arrive, our Scotland itinerary guide covers routes and timing.
- Route: Rosyth to Dunkirk, proposed three times a week, crossing about 20 hours.
- Decision: Forth Ports confirmed on 16 September that the service will not restart.
- Operator: DFDS, which had been in talks, expects the project to end.
- Public money: £3 million each pledged by the UK and Scottish governments; none spent, according to local MP Graeme Downie.
- Status date: Forth Ports statement of 16 September 2026, reported by STV News and The Connexion.
Forth Ports Pulls Out of Rosyth Ferry Talks
Forth Ports runs the Port of Rosyth on the Firth of Forth. A spokesperson said its position was “based on a number of important economic factors which unfortunately impact the long-term viability of a ferry service in Rosyth,” according to STV News.
The company said it would now focus on “delivering alternative activity at the port,” which it described as a key area for development of the Forth Green Freeport. It thanked the UK government, Transport Scotland, DFDS and the project’s promoters for their work.
Graeme Downie, the MP for Dunfermline and Dollar who had campaigned for the route, told STV News it was “extremely disappointing” and said it looked as though efforts to restore the service had reached “the end of the road.”
A Route Delayed Since 2024
The Rosyth to Dunkirk service was first expected to start in spring 2024, according to The Connexion. Funding problems stalled it, and hopes shifted to 2025 and then to 2026. In August, the same outlet reported that a start this year was no longer expected, and that 2027 looked more likely.
This year brought two funding pledges of £3 million each. STV News reports that the UK government money, pledged in March, was ring-fenced for Border Force and customs upgrades at Rosyth and depended on Forth Ports reaching a commercial agreement with a ferry operator. The Scottish government also committed £3 million.
Scotland’s economy, tourism and transport secretary, Stephen Flynn, called the decision “deeply disappointing” while describing it as ultimately a commercial matter.
Rosyth Last Had a Passenger Ferry in 2010
Passenger ferries last sailed from Rosyth to Zeebrugge in Belgium in 2010, and a freight-only service continued until 2018, The Connexion reports. The Dunkirk plan was the latest attempt to bring back a direct sea link between Scotland and mainland Europe.
With it gone, travellers heading between Scotland and the continent with a car need a crossing from another port, usually in England, which adds a long drive, or a flight and a rental car instead.
An Overnight Option via Newcastle
One existing overnight option for reaching Scotland by sea with a car runs between IJmuiden, near Amsterdam, and North Shields near Newcastle. DFDS markets that route as a way to reach Scotland with your own car, with cabins and an overnight crossing.
From Newcastle, the drive or train north continues into Scotland. Check for engineering work before you book, because rail between Newcastle and Scotland has replacement buses during autumn upgrades.
| If you were planning… | What to do |
|---|---|
| A direct ferry from Scotland to France | Drop it. The Rosyth to Dunkirk service will not run. |
| A car trip to the continent from Scotland | Plan a crossing from another port, such as Newcastle. |
| A continental trip into Scotland by sea | Sail IJmuiden to North Shields, then drive north. |
| Rail onward from Newcastle this autumn | Check engineering work before you book. |
No direct link. The Rosyth to Dunkirk ferry will not restart.
Longer routings. Sea trips to the continent start from ports outside Scotland.
No new date. Forth Ports and DFDS both describe the project as ending.
Is there a ferry from Scotland to France?
No. The planned Rosyth to Dunkirk service will not go ahead, Forth Ports confirmed on 16 September 2026.
Why was the Rosyth to Dunkirk ferry scrapped?
Forth Ports cited economic factors affecting the long-term viability of a ferry service at Rosyth.
Who was going to run the ferry?
DFDS had been in talks to operate it. It says it now expects the project to end.
Which ferry can I take toward Scotland from Europe?
One option is the overnight IJmuiden to North Shields crossing near Newcastle, run by DFDS.
