Boluda Shipping plans to takeover Samskip. The acquisition will pave the way for a leading European short-sea network, connecting Northern Europe with the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands and West Africa.
Boluda and Samskip aim to strengthen their European short-sea shipping networks by combining their maritime and logistics expertise. The integration is expected to provide more connections, greater capacity and more efficient and reliable services. The transaction is expected to close on 1 January 2027, subject to approval by the relevant authorities and fulfilment of the agreed closing conditions.
The companies already cooperate on services in Spain. Boluda brings its maritime heritage, towage activities, container shipping business and port logistics expertise. Samskip contributes its strong position in Northern Europe, multimodal transport capabilities, customer relationships and market knowledge. Together, they aim to strengthen connections across Europe and with West Africa.
‘Bringing Samskip’s network and expertise together with our maritime and logistics capabilities gives us the scale and opportunities to take our ambition further,’ says Ignacio Boluda Ceballos, Executive Chairman of Boluda Shipping.
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32 vessels operating 18 routes
The combined network will integrate maritime, rail and road transport, with terminals connecting the different modes and facilitating the movement of goods. Combining sea and rail transport with road collection and delivery can also reduce CO₂ emissions compared with road-only transport.
Following completion, the network is expected to comprise 32 vessels operating eighteen routes and connecting 28 countries. It will include 21 maritime terminals, five rail terminals and more than 500 company-owned trucks. The network is also expected to handle 35,000 containers, representing annual throughput of more than 750,000 TEU.
Boluda Shipping plans to invest in the combined network to increase capacity, expand connections and support future growth, building on its multimodal transport model.
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Rotterdam as key strategic location
The acquisition builds on Boluda’s expansion in Northern Europe, where the company has maintained a strong presence for several years through Boluda Towage’s harbour towage operations and Boluda Shipping’s maritime transport and logistics activities. The opening of its new offices in Rotterdam last June further reinforced this commitment. For Samskip, headquartered in the Netherlands, Rotterdam is also a key hub for its operations.
The experience of both organisations in the region, along with their combined capabilities, will make Rotterdam a strategic location for the development and coordination of services across the combined network.
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Looking ahead
Samskip’s brand, Icelandic origins and established recognition in its markets will remain an important part of the story of the combined business. Ólafur Orri Ólafsson will stay on as CEO of Samskip and play a key role going forward, contributing his experience while supporting Samskip’s teams throughout the integration under the new ownership.
The agreement is subject to approval by the relevant authorities and fulfilment of the agreed closing conditions. Until the transaction closes, Samskip and Boluda will continue to operate independently. The transaction is expected to close on 1 January 2027.
Picture: Ignacio Boluda, Chairman, Boluda Shipping and Ólafur Orri Ólafsson, CEO, Samskip.
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