This project will investigate the potential for developing fast freight ferry services on UK coastal routes as an alternative to long-distance road transport. The study will involve application, testing, and further refinement of a research methodology previously used to establish the operational and commercial viability of fast ferry services (e.g. in EMMA, and ZEE-SCOT projects) throughout Europe.

Findings from the study will be expected to demonstrate to industry partners, in particular to ports, ferry operator. Shipbuilder and integrated transport service providers, the potential feasibility of fast freight ferry services. Should this indicate that there is likely to be significant demand for such a service, future research could employ stated preference modelling to quantify the share of freight movements on targeted routes which might be captured. Research undertaken by Tweddle, Fowkes and Nash (1996) on the effects of the introduction of Channel Tunnel freight services shows how stated preference surveys can be effectively used for this purpose.