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Spain’s Boluda to buy Samskip

[ October 28, 2026   //   ]

Spanish-owned Boluda Shipping has signed an agreement to buy fellow short-sea operator Samskip. It says the acquisition will pave the way for Europe’s most comprehensive network, connecting Northern Europe with the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands and West Africa.

The transaction is expected to close on 1 January 2027, subject to approval by the relevant authorities and fulfilment of the agreed closing conditions.

Boluda and Samskip already operate joint services in Spain. As well as container shipping, Boluda is active in towage and port operation and also owns the Spanish railfreight operator, Renfe. The company has a UK office in Liverpool and also opened an office in Rotterdam last year.

Samskip operates short-sea services in Northern Europe but sold its quay-to-quay and door-to-door freight business between the Continent, UK and Ireland to Belgium-based CLdN earlier this year including services between Rotterdam and Belfast, Blythe, Grangemouth, Hull and Tilbury and the Irish ports of Cork, Dublin and Waterford.

The combined network is expected to comprise of 32 vessels operating 18 routes and connecting markets in 28 countries and 21 maritime terminals , along with five rail terminals and more than 500 trucks. The network is also expected to handle a total of 35,000 containers, with an annual throughput of more than 750,000 TEUs.

Executive chairman of Boluda Shipping, Ignacio Boluda Ceballos, 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.”

Samskip chief executive Ólafur Orri Ólafsson, added: “Samskip and Boluda are two family-owned companies with a long track record in transport, shared values and a long-term vision. That common ground gives us confidence in the opportunity ahead. By bringing our complementary strengths together, we can expand what we offer our customers while building on the expertise, commitment and service they rely on every day.”

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