The transaction will give continuity and service for customers and helps to focus on growing other parts of the Samskip network.

Today, Samskip announced an agreement with leading short sea shipping and multimodal operator CLdN to sell its UK and Ireland (UKI-trade) door-to-door and quay-to-quay cargo business.

Samskip is confident that by handing over the UKI-trade, continuity and high service levels for its customers are secured. By selling this part of its business, greater focus can be given to growing other parts of their network, ensuring a strong, sustainable product offering with a customer-centric organization.

The transaction will enable Samskip to focus even more on the company’s long-distance multimodal network that connects destinations covering mainland Europe, the Nordics, Baltics and North Africa. With sustainability as a central part of Samskip’s strategy, this will contribute to the decarbonization of customer’s supply chains.

The sale covers the container shipping services currently operated by Samskip between Rotterdam (Rotterdam Short Sea Terminals / Matrans Rotterdam Terminal) and UK ports of Belfast, Blyth, Grangemouth, Hull and Tilbury and the Irish ports of Cork, Dublin and Waterford. It is envisaged to transfer all existing operations in respect of the UKI-trade, including our operating agreements.
The envisaged transaction is subject to the satisfactory outcome of the relevant and recommended regulatory and competition clearances.

Both parties have agreed not to disclose financial details related to the transaction.

Commenting on the transaction, Florent Maes, Chief Executive Officer, CLdN said: “This trans-action is highly complementary to CLdN’s existing shipping and multimodal activities. Customers will benefit from an even broader array of shipping options and enhanced door-to-door equipment and services. CLdN has a long history of connecting mainland Europe with the UK and Irish markets and we look forward to further developing these reliable, flexible and environmentally efficient connections through this acquisition.”

Ólafur Orri Ólafsson, Chief Executive Officer, Samskip added: “We at Samskip are very confident about this transaction. It will allow us to focus on the key strategic markets of the future, where we will continue to invest in our organization and further develop our longer-distance trades where we deliver the most value to our customers. At the same time, selling the UK and Ireland trades to a strong partner will secure the continuation of this trade and guarantee a high coverage for our customers in the respective markets.”