Boluda acquires Samskip in European shortsea power play

Boluda Shipping has agreed to acquire Samskip, setting the foundation to create a European shortsea powerhouse with a large number of connections and greater capacity. Boluda Shipping, the shipping division of the Spanish, family-owned Boluda Corporation Maritima, aims to conclude the acquisition on January 1, 2027; however, no financial details have been unveiled by either company.

“We have a clear vision: to lead European shortsea shipping and make our network a competitive advantage for the businesses that place their trust in us,” Ignacio Boluda Ceballos, executive chairman of Boluda Shipping, said. “Bringing Samskip‘s network and expertise together with our maritime and logistics capabilities gives us the scale and opportunities to take that ambition further. 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,” he said.

The combined shortsea network will operate 32 vessels on 18 routes, connecting markets in 28 countries between Northern Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands and West Africa. The combined entity will own 21 maritime terminals, five rail terminals and more than 500 company-owned trucks. Boluda aims to further invest in the combined network, strengthening capacity and expanding connections.

The acquisition also follows the opening of Boluda’s new office in Rotterdam in June last year. Rotterdam is a key hub for Samskip’s operations and is the company’s headquarters. 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.

This story was originally published by Project Cargo Journal. Read the full story at Project Cargo Journal →