Flashback to 2023. Five Samskip vessels are already sailing on 100% waste-based biofuels, reducing emissions by more than 85%. Carbon capture technology is being installed aboard the Samskip Innovator, and our Board is deep in discussion on whether our new zero-emission ship should run on hydrogen, methanol or ammonia. At Samskip and across our industry, sustainability is at the very top of the agenda.

It was during this exciting period that our Sustainability team proposed a new set of ambitions to formalize our long-term commitment. Based on climate science and aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, Samskip adopted Science-Based Targets with a clear ambition: reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and reaching net-zero by 2040. It was the natural next step, and the Samskip Board adopted the targets unanimously.

Then the world changed. Global priorities shifted. Supply chains came under pressure. Geopolitical tensions, energy uncertainty and economic instability challenged businesses everywhere. Conversations that had once centered around long-term sustainability increasingly focused on immediate resilience and, in some cases, simply surviving the new economic landscape.

For a moment, it seemed the momentum behind sustainability might begin to slow. But not at Samskip.

“I’ll be honest: I’m more confident about the future of sustainability now than I was a few years ago. Not because it’s easier, but because it’s more mature.”

For Samskip’s Sustainability Manager, Laurens Dourleijn, that shift has fundamentally changed the conversation.

Sustainability is resilience.

Rather than being viewed as a separate ambition, it has become an essential part of building a stronger, more reliable business.

By reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and investing in flexible alternatives, we’re preparing for whatever comes next. Whether responding to changing regulations, geopolitical developments, energy market uncertainty or evolving customer expectations, resilience gives us the flexibility to adapt with confidence.

Where others stalled, Samskip kept moving forward. Because we understand one simple truth: sustainability is resilience. Stringent European climate regulation? We’re ready. Oil supply shocks? We’re less exposed. Customers ready to scale up? So are we.

Our continued investment in flexible, dual-fuel vessels means we can move in either direction, and that flexibility is what makes us resilient and ultimately more reliable for our customers. It’s the pioneering spirit we’ve always had, but now it’s smarter, more adaptable and ready for whatever the future brings.

That approach is also reflected in what our customers are telling us. Our latest Customer Satisfaction Survey shows that around 70% of customers consider sustainability Important or Very Important. Even more encouraging, around 80% said they would be interested in lower-carbon transport solutions, provided they remain commercially competitive.

“For me, this sends a clear message: sustainability continues to matter.”

And Samskip is committed to helping customers achieve their own sustainability ambitions.

Through our FlexFuel program, customers can already reduce their CO₂ emissions using waste-based biofuels. In the years ahead, those possibilities will continue to grow as hydrogen-powered transport becomes part of our network.

Looking back to those boardroom conversations in 2023, it’s remarkable how quickly ideas have become reality, but also how quickly the business environment can change.

Today, Samskip’s two SeaShuttle vessels are under construction, and following last year’s keel-laying milestone, the first vessel is expected to enter service in 2027. Once operational, it is expected to become the world’s first hydrogen-powered short-sea container vessel.

Perhaps even more importantly, the journey doesn’t stop there.

These vessels are not a one-off project, but the beginning of building the next generation of the Samskip fleet.

“Looking back over the past few years, I see more than technological progress. I see a different way of thinking. Sustainability is no longer a topic sitting alongside the business. Today, it sits at the heart of how we think about risk, resilience and delivering the most reliable service we can offer our customers. That’s exactly where it belongs.”

It is a perspective that fits naturally with Samskip’s next chapter. As our business continues to evolve around Reliable Service, Customer Centricity and a Strong Network, sustainability is no longer simply about reducing emissions. It is about strengthening supply chains, supporting customers and building a business that is prepared for tomorrow.

Samskip has just published its latest Sustainability Report, offering a comprehensive overview of our environmental, social and governance progress, the milestones we’ve achieved, and the ambitions that continue to drive us forward.

We hope you’ll find plenty of valuable insights in this year’s report and would be grateful if you could take a few moments to explore it. As always, please feel free to reach out to me or your Samskip representative with any questions or to exchange ideas. We’d be delighted to continue the conversation.

Kind regards,

Laurens Dourleijn
Sustainability Manager, Samskip