CLdN has reached an agreement with multimodal logistics provider Samskip to acquire Samskip’s quay-to-quay and door-to-door freight business operating between the European continent and the UK and Ireland, the companies said on 17 February 2026.
The deal covers Samskip’s container shipping services currently run between Rotterdam and UK ports including Belfast, Blyth, Grangemouth, Hull and Tilbury, as well as Irish ports Cork, Dublin and Waterford. According to the press release, these services account for more than 1,000 port calls per year and serve a broad customer base, including consumer goods manufacturers.
In addition, the acquisition includes Samskip’s door-to-door cargo services linking the UK and Ireland with continental Europe, alongside the transfer of lease agreements for more than 5,000 multimodal cargo units. The equipment portfolio listed in the announcement includes 45ft pallet-wide containers, refrigerated containers and curtain-side containers, as well as flat racks and high-cube refrigerated containers.
CLdN said that, once the transaction receives regulatory clearance and is completed, it plans to ensure a seamless continuation of the services currently offered by Samskip. The transfer of activities is also expected to include certain supplier agreements, including contracts related to road haulage, rail and barge connections, vessel sharing and port operating agreements.
CLdN CEO Florent Maes said the transaction is complementary to CLdN’s existing shipping and multimodal activities, pointing to a broader range of shipping options, increased sailing frequency and expanded door-to-door equipment and services. Samskip CEO Ólafur Orri Ólafsson said the sale would allow Samskip to focus on what it described as “key strategic markets of the future”, while aiming to secure continuity of the UK and Ireland trade for customers.
The transaction is subject to conditions, including relevant regulatory and competition clearances. The parties said they will not disclose financial details of the deal.
