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Motorways of the sea
Page 40
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In recent years, a combination of environmental concerns, fuel costs and poor road infrastructure has led operators to consider multi-modal options for UK supply chain operations. Previously, such discussions tended to ignore water freight. Most canals are too narrow, and intra-coastal shipping journeys are seen as involving too much trans-shipment to be of any use for anything but low value, non-timesensitive bulk goods. However, partly inspired by coastal freight ferry services in Italy, there has been some academic research (notably by Heriot-Watt University) into potential users of such a service in the UK. Three potential freight ferry routes between Scotland and England were identified, but, it was argued, only sophisticated high-speed freight ferries would be able to compete with current road transport services and offer the same price and transit times.
If such services were frequent, and perhaps subsidised, revenue reductions for hauliers might be gained from fuel savings and the opportunity cost of freeing up a tractor unit. Environmental savings would certainly be achieved, but as yet, road transport firms haven't embraced the concept, preferring the rail option.