Ferry operator Norfolkline is taking bookings for its new Rosyth-Zeebrugge service with sailings on the route due to begin on May 18, 2009.
Greece-based Superfast Ferries ran an 18-hour service from Rosyth in Fife to Zeebrugge in Belgium for six years up until the final sailing on September 13. They announced in May that they would discontinue the service, blaming high fuel costs and poor passenger numbers.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said the return of the ferry service was "a major boost" with the 2009 Year of Homecoming celebrations a few weeks away.
"Visitors from Europe can now make plans to join in our Homecoming celebrations. We have a unique opportunity with Norfolkline to get the ferry off to the best possible start through encouraging friends and family from Europe to travel to Scotland using this new ferry service."
He added: "Maintaining connections with major European markets is vital for Scotland, particularly during these challenging economic times. The route has so far carried nearly one million passengers, 4.2 million tonnes of freight and made a significant contribution to Scotland's tourist industry."
Norfolkline is part of the A.P.Moller Maersk Group, and currently employs more than 2,200 people in 14 countries across the European continent, operating out of 35 different locations. In 2007, more than 2.0 million passengers used Norfolkline's ferry service across the English Channel and on the Irish Sea. Norfolkline also carried over 1.3 million freight units between ports throughout Europe.