
A New Chapter for Samskip: Strengthening Our Network and Future Focus
25 February 2026
Samskip has taken an important strategic step by agreeing to sell its UK and Ireland (UKI trade) quay to quay and door to door freight business to CLdN, a leading short sea shipping and multimodal operator. This decision supports our ambition to strengthen our wider network and continue to focus on delivering reliable, sustainable and customer‑focused logistics solutions.
The agreement includes Samskip’s container shipping services between Rotterdam (Rotterdam Short Sea Terminals and Matrans Rotterdam Terminal) and the UK ports of Belfast, Blyth, Grangemouth, Hull and Tilbury, as well as the Irish ports of Cork, Dublin and Waterford. All existing operations and agreements related to these trades are intended to transfer to CLdN following regulatory and competition approvals. Financial details remain confidential.
At the heart of this transition is our commitment to the people who trust us with their cargo every day. By transferring the UKI‑trade to CLdN, we are ensuring that customers who depend on these services will experience continuity, stability and a smooth transition. CLdN is deeply established in the UK and Irish markets and shares our belief that reliability and service excellence come first.
This gives customers the confidence that their operations remain in capable hands, supported by a company that knows these routes well and has built decades of experience around them.
A Clearer Focus on Where We Create the Most Value
This step allows Samskip to focus even more strongly on the longer‑distance multimodal network that has become a core part of our identity. These corridors across Europe, the Nordics, the Baltics, Iberia and North Africa are where we see the greatest opportunity to innovate, grow and build stronger partnerships with our customers.
By sharpening this focus, we can invest more deeply in what matters: dependable schedules, sustainable logistics choices, smart digital tools and the kind of personal support that helps customers move forward with confidence. It is a decision led by responsibility, clarity and a genuine desire to create long‑term value for everyone we serve.
Strengthening Our Sustainability Journey
Sustainability is woven into our long‑term strategy. Concentrating on our long‑distance multimodal routes accelerates our efforts to reduce emissions and contribute to greener supply chains across Europe. This transition strengthens our ability to offer transport options that make a meaningful difference to our customers’ environmental ambitions.
Moving Forward, Together
CLdN CEO Florent Maes remarked on how the acquisition enhances their network and delivers additional value to customers. Samskip CEO Ólafur Orri Ólafsson emphasized that this move supports our long‑term strategy and allows us to focus on the markets where we can make the most meaningful impact for our partners.
This transition reflects our pioneering mindset, our reliability, and our commitment to growing forward together with our customers. It is a step made with clarity, confidence and care.
Click here to read the Press Release





