Spanish operator Boluda Shipping has entered into an agreement to acquire Netherlands-headquartered transport and logistics group Samskip, the two companies confirmed on Wednesday, October 28.
Completion of the transaction is anticipated for January 1, 2027, provided the relevant authorities approve and the agreed closing conditions are fulfilled. The companies said they will continue to operate independently until completion.
Once the deal closes, the combined shortsea network is expected to operate 32 vessels on 18 maritime routes across 28 countries. These routes will link Northern Europe with the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands and West Africa.
The companies said the network would handle annual logistics throughput of more than 750,000 TEUs.
The network will also comprise 21 maritime terminals, alongside five rail terminals and a fleet of more than 500 company-owned trucks, with sea services integrated with rail and road transport. Boluda Shipping said it plans to invest in the network, aiming to increase capacity and broaden connections.
"We see significant potential to strengthen connections across Europe and with West Africa, while continuing to focus on efficiency, reliability and service for our customers," said Boluda Shipping Executive Chairman Ignacio Boluda Ceballos.
Samskip CEO Ólafur Orri Ólafsson will remain in his post following the acquisition, and the Samskip brand will be retained within the combined business. Rotterdam, where Samskip is headquartered, will serve as a strategic location for coordinating services across the network.
The two companies already operate joint services in Spain. In September 2023, they launched a weekly shortsea service connecting Santander, Dublin and Liverpool.
