Short-Sea Shake-Up As CLdN Acquires Samskip’s UK & Ireland Business

In a move that’s turning heads across European freight corridors, Rotterdam-based multimodal operator Samskip has agreed to sell its UK and Ireland trade business — including both door-to-door and quay-to-quay cargo operations — to fellow short-sea and multimodal player CLdN. The deal was confirmed on 17 February 2026, and it marks a significant reshaping of short-sea services connecting the Continent with the British Isles.

Image: Samskip

For customers used to Samskip’s schedules between Rotterdam and ports such as Belfast, Grangemouth, Hull, Tilbury and further into Cork, Dublin and Waterford, the good news is continuity. All existing operations — including service contracts and terminal agreements — are expected to move to CLdN once the deal clears regulatory and competition checks.

CLdN’s chief executive, Florent Maes, frames the acquisition as “highly complementary” to the company’s own network — expanding not just the volume of sailings, but the choice of routing and equipment available to shippers. Customers will benefit from more frequent sailings and enhanced door-to-door coverage as CLdN integrates Samskip’s assets and expertise into its broader European short-sea footprint.

For Samskip, the transaction represents a strategic recalibration. CEO Ólafur Orri Ólafsson emphasised that divesting the UK & Ireland trades frees up focus and resources to grow the company’s longer-distance multimodal links — stretching deeper into mainland Europe, the Nordics, the Baltics and North Africa. Sustainability remains at the heart of Samskip’s ambitions, and this reshaping is described as part of that journey towards decarbonised supply chains.

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.”

While financial details weren’t disclosed publicly, what’s clear is that the hand-over isn’t just a change of ownership — it’s a shift in how short-sea connectivity is evolving in a post-Brexit Europe. For fresh produce traders, grocery importers and supply-chain planners alike, this could be one to watch as services transition in the months ahead.