A DUNFERMLINE MP has called for Rosyth's Greenport to be recognised as a "City Port".

Now that Dunfermline has become Scotland's eighth city, Douglas Chapman, MP for Dunfermline West believes that this is the perfect time for the port to be named to reflect this. 

He said: “City Status is the ideal vehicle on which to build prosperity and economic opportunity for our local communities. Creating enduring and positive links with the new Greenport at Rosyth is an essential component of maximising these benefits.

"Through my engagement with Forth Ports, I understand that they too are keen for Dunfermline to be recognised as a ‘City Port’ and are committed to working closely with local authorities, stakeholders, businesses and community groups to ensure regeneration and high-quality job creation through a focus on decarbonisation, the Just Transition and global trade and investment.”

The Forth Greenport aims to bring £6 billion in private and public investment and to contribute £4 billion in gross value added.

Not only does it have the potential to create 50,000 high-quality jobs, stimulate growth in renewable manufacturing, and develop offshore wind and various alternative fuel sectors, but it also aims to support research and development investment and drive business growth for small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups.

Mr Chapman continued: “Data from a report by Ramboll in association with the University of Southampton and the British Port Association shows that closer cooperation between ports and cities is mutually beneficial, particularly when focused on sustainable diversification.

Green goals for a City Port can enable economic growth both at the port and in the local economy as well as reduced environmental impacts, creating a win-win scenario.

"By working together in partnership on planning ambitions and creating positive engagement with local groups, Dunfermline and Rosyth is in a position to make sure there is no repeat of the mistakes of past freeports, where surrounding areas were locked out of job opportunities for instance.

"As an evolving public and private sector partnership, Rosyth Greenport is keen to build direct community links as well as a skills pipeline to benefit local workers. I look forward to being part of this process and ensuring citizens have their say on the opportunities inherent in a sustainable City Port.”

The Scottish Government’s Greenport ambitions include requiring new Greenports to contribute towards a just transition and net-zero emissions by 2045 while delivering net-zero benefits and creating new green jobs.

They are required to set out how they will support high-quality employment opportunities that offer good salaries and conditions, and how fair work practices will be embedded in the green freeport area.

He added: “We only have to look at the success of ports in mainland Europe, such as the merged port of Antwerp and Zeebrugge, which has been described as the “economic engine” of Flanders.

"The Port of Antwerp-Bruges as it is now called, contributes 4.5% to the Belgian GDP and provides over 160,000 jobs through its cargo terminals, distribution centres and as Europe's biggest chemical cluster. Its focus on reinventing itself as the world’s most sustainable port recognises the economic benefits inherent in going green, with currently 86% of its energy generated by onsite renewables.

"They are also collaborating internationally on a Greenport masterplan – it will be interesting to find out if our Greenport ambitions at Rosyth could be part of such an international collaboration.

“It also brings into sharp focus the importance of my campaign to reinstate the ferry link from Rosyth to continental Europe, with the port of Dunkirk as our destination in the first instance.

"Scottish global trade ambitions are currently stifled by Brexit, and our negotiations on the ferry are currently stalled due to financial issues.

"I hope the latter can be rectified to bolster and grow our ambitions for and benefits from the former to connect both the City of Dunfermline Port and Scotland to Europe by sea once again.”