boats

A previous European route for passengers was axed back in 2018, but connections could be revived as soon as spring 2025. If launched, it would become the second-longest ferry route across Europe and take over 20 hours.

A proposed ferry route that would connect Scotland to France could launch as soon as spring 2026, with a 20-hour journey open for both passengers and freight.

Ferry operator DFDS has floated plans to offer a ferry services from Rosyth, about half an hour from Edinburgh, to Dunkirk on France’s Nord department.

It’s not the first time the Scottish port has had a European service. Until 2010, passengers could travel by boat to Zeebrugge in Belgium, which used to take 17 hours. The service, which ran four times a week, was axed for passengers in 2010 and turned into a freight service before being discontinued completely in 2018.

The plans, dubbed ‘Project Brave’ were first revealed in 2022, but soon hit red tape. There was initially a need to build new border control facilities at Rosyth to process certain goods. However, officials are now looking to remove the need for the facilities, which means the route could be ready to launch in as soon as spring.

Questions were also raised about whether Transport Scotland should subsidise the £3 million needed to open the route, with the government arguing it would be ‘anti-competitive’ to provide the funding. However, Labour MP Graeme Downie argued in Westminster in November that “It is estimated the direct ferry link would initially carry 51,000 passengers a year, rising to 79,000, bringing an additional £11.5 million (€14 million) of spend to the Scottish economy.”

The planned 20-hour route would run three times a week, and would become the second-longest ferry service in all of Europe, just behind the Portsmouth to Bilbao route which takes between 27 and 30 hours.

Graeme Downie also previously spoke in parliament about the delays faced in making the new route a reality, saying: “These matters can be complex but we have taken a huge stride towards making this ferry service a reality. I want to thank the secretary of state for Scotland and his officials for their work and assistance in finding a way to ensure a Border Control Post is not required at Rosyth. Their efforts make it more likely a passenger and freight ferry to Dunkirk could begin as soon as next year

“We are not quite there yet and, in particular, a small amount of infrastructure is needed at the Port of Rosyth. However, as the ferry is one of the projects in the strategy of the Forth Green Freeport I am hopeful we can overcome this problem as well.”

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Dunkirk’s location makes it a handy port for those planning to drive on the continent. As well as being a gateway to France, it is close to the Belgium and just over an hour from the Netherlands.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Northumberland village is one of the UK’s most picturesque fishing villages, boasting charming cottages, sweeping views of the sea and plenty of fresh air — perfect for a serene getaway.

Tucked away in the heart of the Northumbrian coast lies a charming fishing village with a dark history, seemingly frozen in time.

Located approximately six miles east of the lively market town of Alnwick, this historic fishing hamlet is a must-see for those looking to experience the UK’s natural splendour away from the masses. As the next village up the coast from Alnmouth, it offers a stark contrast to Alnmouth’s abundant facilities and leisure spots.

This captivating village is famed for its picturesque chocolate-box cottages and iconic blue coble fishing boats, which have been a hallmark of the region for centuries and are still utilised by local fishermen today. Interestingly, this fishing village doesn’t have a formal harbour, so boats are hauled ashore by tractors, making it an ideal location for rock pooling and coastal walks.

The beautiful coastal village of Boulmer boasts a small population (likely less than 120 residents) and primarily consists of a long row of cottages and houses providing uninterrupted views of the North Sea. It’s regarded as one of Northumberland’s last authentic fishing villages, and little has altered within its confines over the past century.

The tranquil village is an ideal spot for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of tourist hotspots, offering a peaceful setting for relaxation. However, Boulmer doesn’t offer much in terms of recreational activities, reports Chronicle Live.

The Fishing Boat Inn is the only place to eat and drink in this village. Despite its somewhat murky history, akin to Boulmer itself, it’s now a favourite haunt for locals looking for a pint and a bite to eat. Indeed, there isn’t a single retail shop in Boulmer, so anyone hoping for a shopping spree would need to travel approximately a mile and a half to the village of Longhoughton or 13 miles to the town of Alnwick.

Historically, a significant shift in the village’s routine came with the opening of the Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Boulmer. Located on the outskirts of the fishing village, RAF Boulmer became operational during World War II and is arguably more renowned than the village itself.

The base continues to play a crucial role in the UK’s defence and serves as a key search and rescue base for the Royal Air Force.

Aside from the arrival of the Royal Air Force, little has changed in Boulmer over the past century. It remains one of the few traditional fishing villages still found along Northumberland’s coast.

Nefarious past

Boulmer could be dubbed the smuggling hub of the North, given its rich and complex history with smugglers and pirates. The 18th and 19th centuries marked the height of smuggling activities in Boulmer, as pirates and smugglers from across the Northumbrian coast and Scotland flocked to the small fishing village to trade their illicit goods.

The Fishing Boat Inn was at the epicentre of this unlawful activity, serving as a base for these criminals.

In fact, during the 18th century, William Faa – also known as the King of the Gypsies and one of Britain’s most infamous smugglers – resided just 35 miles away from Boulmer, in the Scottish village of Kirk Yetholm. Reportedly, the landlords of the Fishing Boat Inn were quite accommodating during Boulmer’s smuggling heyday.

Nowadays, Boulmer is a tranquil fishing village boasting picturesque views, with the Fishing Boat Inn being its main attraction.

How to get there

Boulmer can be accessed by car via the village of Longhoughton or from the south through the village of Lesbury. Parking is available in the Fishing Boat Inn’s car park and directly on the seafront.

A limited bus service operates through the village, so visitors relying solely on public transport should check the latest updates and schedules before planning their trip.

WASHINGTON — President Trump has indicated that the U.S. has “hit” a facility in South America as he wages a pressure campaign on Venezuela, but the U.S. offered no other details.

Trump made the comments in what seemed to be an impromptu radio interview Friday.

The president, who called radio host John Catsimatidis during a program on WABC radio, was discussing U.S. strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, which have killed at least 105 people in 29 known strikes since early September.

“I don’t know if you read or saw, they have a big plant or a big facility where they send the, you know, where the ships come from,” Trump said. “Two nights ago, we knocked that out. So, we hit them very hard.”

Trump did not offer any additional details in the interview, including what kind of attack may have occurred. The Pentagon on Monday referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or one of the U.S. military’s social media accounts has in the past typically announced every boat strike in a post on X, but they have not posted any notice of any strike on a facility.

The press office of Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment on Trump’s statement.

Trump for months has suggested he may conduct land strikes in South America, in Venezuela or possibly another country, and in recent weeks has been saying the U.S. would move beyond striking boats and would strike on land “soon.”

In October, Trump confirmed he had authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. The agency did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.

Along with the strikes, the U.S. has sent warships, built up military forces in the region, seized two oil tankers and pursued a third.

The Trump administration has said it is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels and seeking to stop the flow of narcotics into the United States.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from power.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in an interview with Vanity Fair published this month that Trump “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro ‘cries uncle.’”

Price writes for the Associated Press. AP writers Konstantin Toropin in Washington and Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

Ukraine is expanding its uncrewed surface vessel (USV) attacks to hit Russian targets on the Dnipro River and its tributaries. Kyiv’s USV campaign has previously hit enemy shipping, warships, and infrastructure in attacks made famous by the country’s State Security Service (SBU) and Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR).

Meanwhile, as Russia begins to build out its own USV effort, Ukraine also said it struck a storage site for those vessels on Tuesday night in a preemptive effort to keep them from being deployed.

The 40th Coastal Defense Brigade of the 30th Marine Corps recently released a video showing the Barracuda USV it developed carrying out a mission in the Dnipro region. The video purports to show the Barracuda making its way through an inlet before hitting a small camouflaged Russian boat and outpost. The video then cuts to aerial drone views showing an explosion and resulting destruction.

“The unmanned boat ‘Barracuda’ carried out another successful mission,” the Corps stated on Telegram.

The Barracuda USV is operated by a special unit of the same name, according to the 30th Marine Corps.

“The eponymous special unit, subordinated to the 40th Marine Brigade, independently designed and launched a water drone, which is already defending the coasts of Ukraine,” the Corps explained. 

Unveiled earlier this year, the Barracuda was designed to carry out several missions, including one-way attack, strikes with grenades and first-person view (FPV) drones and resupply, according to the Corps.

This modular design is similar to the Sea Baby USVs produced by the SBU and the Magura line of USVs operated by GUR that have frequently staged attacks in the Black Sea. In addition to serving as one-way attack weapons, the USVs previously deployed by Ukraine have brought down jets and helicopters and launched attacks using aerial drones. This onslaught has already kept Russia’s Black Sea Fleet (BSF) at bay, forcing it to retreat from Crimea to Novorossiysk. Ukrainian USVs have also damaged enemy military facilities in occupied Crimea and the Kerch Bridge.

However, unlike Ukraine’s long-range USVs, the Barracuda is not equipped with satellite communications.

“Its range is therefore limited, making it suitable primarily for short-distance missions among the islands of the Dnipro River, which corresponds with the operating area of the 40th Coastal Defense Brigade,” the Ukrainian United24 media outlet noted.

The unit claims that the Barracuda is guided in part by artificial intelligence, but does not provide any details.

Overall, the Barracuda appears to be a bit cheaper and less complex design that is better optimized for lower priority targets in riverine and shallow littoral areas. The lack of a satellite communications system is interesting as control of the boat would have to be provided locally, within line of sight of the boat or at least within line of sight of a relay, such as a drone, flying overhead. The boat could also follow waypoint navigation autonomously, but making pinpoint attacks in complex waterways would be a challenge for such a concept of operations.

The Barracuda attacks are part of a fight taking place on the Dnipro, its inlets and islands since the Ukrainian’s recaptured Kherson City in November 2023. With neither side being able to launch a major cross-river attack due to the difficulty of crossing a body of water while under fire from drones and artillery, the two sides have been jockeying for position in this area on a much smaller scale.

The success of Ukraine’s USVs has not been lost on Russia. Earlier this year, Moscow carried out a drone boat attack on a Ukrainian Navy reconnaissance ship in the mouth of the Danube River. That incident marked Russia’s first confirmed use of these weapons. In addition to building its own drone boats, Russia also created dedicated units to operate them. You can read more about Russia’s USV development in our story here.

The following video shows the August Russian USV attack on the Ukrainian ship.

Though there have been no confirmed Russian USV attacks since August, Ukraine remains concerned about the potential for future strikes. 

“As part of a systematic reduction of the Russian aggressor’s military-economic potential, on the night of December 24, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out successful strikes on several enemy targets,” the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff claimed on Wednesday. “The storage and maintenance site for unmanned boats in the area of Mirny in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian Crimea was hit.”

The General Staff did not provide any visual evidence of the results of the attack and said that the extent of the damage is still being determined.

While Ukraine’s Barracuda USVs have not yet been carrying out attacks on high-value targets, the drone boats give Kyiv’s beleaguered forces another weapon they can use to help defend its internal waterways.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com