Ferry link could make Shetland a maritime crossroad

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A direct, year round ferry link connecting Shetland to Norway and Scotland could be operational by next year.

Local news source Shetland Marine News reported that Shetland Development Trust are investing £50,000 into a joint initiative with the islands' transport partnership ZetTrans and Møregruppen AS - a group of councils and transport firms from three Norwegian counties. According to the news website, the Norwegians were working towards a direct ferry link between Kristiansund and Rosyth. They are matching the trust's investment into the £100,000 study. Shetland has long sought a role as a maritime crossroads between Scotland and Scandinavia. Introducing Lerwick to either route could bring potentially lucrative connections for carrying seafood from Iceland and Faroe. Møregruppen said a direct sea link to a UK port would help them avoid increasing road charges, especially German road tolls, and overcome their shortage of truck drivers: "It's very important that we have a connection to central Europe. We believe that instead of taking cargo down the Norwegian valleys and the Oslo area we will reduce time and cost by going through Britain," project manager Lorentz Boxaspen told Shetland Marine News.