What Does the Samskip-CLdN Deal Mean for Freight Operations?

Samskip has announced an agreement with CLdN to sell its UK and Ireland (UKI-trade) door-to-door and quay-to-quay cargo business.

This, the company says, will secure high service levels for its customers while also allowing Samskip to focus on developing parts of its network.

As a result, there will be network integrity alongside operational diversification, protecting freight supply chains.

Growing efficiency

Samskip is a global multimodal transportation solutions company, working to connect businesses to sustainable futures through reliable, efficient and tailor-made logistics solutions. Its multimodal network allows customers to transport their cargo between loading and unloading address using the most sustainable and cost-efficient modalities. 

Its door-to-door solutions ensures customers can experience smooth logistics across the entire journey, with no third-party handoff delays. It acts as a trusted partner throughout the journey, working closely with the customer to plan the best route, manage schedules and solve any rising issues. Moreover, it handles customs paperwork and offers real-time tracking to ensure cargo arrives on time and in great condition each time.

Now, however, Samskip has announced it is selling its door-to-door and quay-to-cargo service to CLdN, in what it deems is a strategic move. CLdN is a leading provider of  quay-to-quay and door-to-door logistics solutions, offering reliable and cost-effective transport. It provides shortsea connections between the European continent, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iberia and Scandinavia in order to link major economies within Europe.

The transaction includes its UK and Ireland (UKI-trade) door-to-door and quay-to-quay cargo business, in order to allow Samskip to focus on its growing network in other parts of the world, without sacrificing its customers in UKI.

“We at Samskip are very confident about this transaction," explains Ólafur Orri Ólafsson, Chief Executive Officer at Samskip.

"It will allow us to focus on the key strategic markets of the future, where we will continue to invest in our organization and further develop our longer-distance trades where we deliver the most value to our customers.

"At the same time, selling the UK and Ireland trades to a strong partner will secure the continuation of this trade and guarantee a high coverage for our customers in the respective markets.”

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Multimodal strategy

Samskip views this as a strategic transaction, maintaining confidence that this handover secures the high service levels and continuity for its UKI-trade customers. Moreover, it can provide more focus on the emerging parts of its business, ensuring that it can deliver strong and sustainable operations as a customer-centric organisation. In doing this, it believes it is not sacrificing the integrity of any of its global supply chains, rather acting on everyone's best interests.

Through handing over its UKI-trade, Samskip will be able to focus more on its long-distance multimodal network. This network spans across mainland Europe, the Baltics, the Nordics and North Africa. As sustainability is a significant part of Samskip's strategy, it views this move as playing a positive role in the decarbonisation of its customer's supply chains.

As it can focus on big journeys as opposed to lots of smaller ones, it can ensure long-standing energy efficiency across its multimodal network.

The transaction covers the container shipping services between the Dutch port of Rotterdam and the UK ports of Belfast, Blyth, Grangemouth, Hull and Tilbury as well as the Irish ports of Cork, Dublin and Waterford. They undertake more than 1,000 port calls every year, transporting cargo for a range of customers, including blue chip consumer goods manufacturers. 

It also includes the transferring of the lease agreements for more than 5,000 multimodal cargo units, including refrigerated containers, 40ft high-cube refrigerated containers, 40 and 45ft flat racks, curtain-side containers and 45ft pallet-wide containers. 

“This transaction is highly complementary to CLdN’s existing shipping and multimodal activities," explains Florent Maes, Chief Executive Officer of CLdN.

"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.”

The transaction solidifies CLdN's short-sea container shipping capabilities, meeting demand for existing and new customers across Europe. It also works alongside CLdN's complementary roll-on/roll-off services for mixed cargo and lift-on/lift-off services for containers. 

Both companies are set to benefit from this deal, offering new opportunities for growth.