Wallenius SOL has acquired two RoRo vessels from Royal Wagenborg, the Bothniaborg and Balticborg. A long-term Contract of Affreightment (CoA) with Smurfit Westrock accompanies the acquisition.
Wallenius SOL was founded in 2019 and operates industrial RoRo carriers in the Baltic Region. This fleet includes ice-classed vessels such as the multi-fuel flagships Baltic Enabler and Botnia Enabler, among the world’s largest ice-breaking RoRo ships. The company connects the Bay of Bothnia’s industrial heartland with key ports across Northern Europe.
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Bothniaborg and Balticborg
The acquisition of the Bothniaborg and Balticborg from Wagenborg extends the company’s fleet and capacity. The vessels are to reinforce reliable, frequent, and sustainable connections in the region year-round. This includes the demanding winter ice season.
‘This acquisition is a natural continuation of what we set out to build, a reliable, sustainable maritime backbone for the industries of northern Europe,’ says Elvir Dzanic, CEO, Wallenius SOL. ‘By investing in transport infrastructure capacity and welcoming Smurfit Westrock as a long-term partner, we strengthen both the reach and the resilience of the system. We are proud to take on this responsibility and are committed to delivering the service these volumes deserve.’
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Wagenborg to focus on core activities
The transaction represents Wagenborg’s strategic focus on its core activities in ice class general cargo shipping. While RoRo operations have played a valuable role over the years, the Dutch shipping company feels that Bothniaborg and Balticborg will be in strong hands at Wallenius SOL.
‘Bothniaborg and Balticborg have been at the heart of a long-standing collaboration with Smurfit Westrock since 2004. Together, we have built and operated a reliable service in a demanding region, which makes this a moment we look back on with appreciation. At the same time, we are pleased that both vessels have found a new home with Wallenius SOL to continue their journey,’ says Egbert Vuursteen, CEO Royal Wagenborg.
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Smurfit Westrock partnership
Smurfit Westrock’s mill in Piteå is the largest kraftliner facility in Europe. The site has an annual production capacity of 700,000 tonnes of unbleached and white-top kraftliner. Renewable energy primarliy powers the mill’s operations. As part of this transaction, Wagenborg’s existing CoA with Smurfit Westrock will transfer to Wallenius SOL.
The partnership will evolve over time as the company integrates Smurfit Westrock’s volumes fully into its shipping network, transitioning from current stowage modes to RoRo cassette operations and eventually connecting the Piteå flow to next-generation vessels as part of the shipping company’s long-term newbuilding programme.
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Scaling sustainable maritime infrastructure
Wallenius SOL has committed more than EUR 250M in fleet investments to date, with further significant investments planned. This is part of its roadmap to achieve 100 per cent renewable fuel operations by 2035. The addition of Smurfit Westrock’s volumes strengthens the utilisation and viability of this infrastructure.
The Bay of Bothnia faces some of the most demanding operating conditions in Europe, with ice covering the sea lanes for up to five months each year. Wallenius SOL’s fleet operates according to fixed weekly schedules. By doing so, it keeps these corridors open, enabling the industries of northern Sweden and Finland to remain competitive in global markets.
Picture: One of the two Wagenborg RoRo vessels acquired by Wallenius SOL, the Bothniaborg (photo by Flying Focus).
