- CLdN has completed the transfer of its shipping operations from Luxembourg to the UK, establishing new headquarters in London.
- The move reflects the company’s strong UK presence, with around 75% of its sailings starting or ending at UK ports.
- CLdN says it will benefit from the UK’s maritime expertise and talent pool as it continues to expand its shipping activities.
- To mark the move, UK Maritime Minister Keir Mather visited CLdN’s Purfleet terminal, highlighting the company’s contribution to trade, investment and employment.
- CEO Florent Maes said the relocation strengthens CLdN’s long-term commitment to the UK, supported by recent investments and the planned acquisition of Samskip’s UK and Ireland services.
- CLdN has invested around EUR 100 million in its UK terminals at Purfleet, Killingholme and Liverpool to support future freight growth.
CLdN has appointed Cameron Bowie as Chief Operating Officer of CLdN Shipping, effective 13 July 2026.
Bowie joins from container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd, where he currently serves as Managing Director UK & Ireland. He brings 36 years of experience in the maritime transport sector.
According to CLdN, his experience will support the company’s ambitions in short-sea container shipping and its continued expansion in UK, Irish and European trades.
Bowie succeeds Gary Walker, who will retire this summer after almost three decades with CLdN. Walker joined the company in 1997 and has led its shipping activities for the past 12 years, overseeing a significant expansion of operations.
CLdN will acquire Samskip’s quay-to-quay and door-to-door freight business between the Continent and the UK & Ireland.
- Includes container services between Rotterdam and UK ports (Belfast, Blyth, Grangemouth, Hull, Tilbury) and Irish ports (Cork, Dublin, Waterford).
- Network currently performs more than 1,000 port calls per year.
- Covers door-to-door multimodal operations linking the UK & Ireland with continental Europe.
- Transfer of leases for 5,000+ multimodal cargo units, including 45ft pallet-wide containers, reefers and flat racks.
- Supplier agreements for road, rail, barge, vessel sharing and port operations to move to CLdN.
- Strengthens CLdN’s short-sea container offering alongside its RoRo activities.
- Expands scale and network reach, particularly towards Central & Eastern Europe.
- Regulatory and competition approval required before closing.
- Financial details not disclosed.
CLdN has announced the launch of a new weekly LoLo container service linking Rotterdam Distriport with Leixões (Porto), responding to growing customer demand on the route.
Key points
- Weekly LoLo container service between Rotterdam Distriport and Port of Leixões
- Complements two weekly return RoRo sailings between Rotterdam / Zeebrugge and Leixões
- Part of CLdN’s 2024 strategy combining LoLo and RoRo on longer-distance routes
- Aims to increase operational flexibility, sailing frequency, and reduce CO₂ emissions per unit
- Service scheduled to commence on Sunday, 25 January
According to CLdN, deploying container vessels alongside RoRo tonnage enhances network resilience while supporting customers’ decarbonisation objectives through improved utilisation and lower emissions intensity.
DFDS and CLdN have agreed to extend their space charter agreement on the Zeebrugge–Gothenburg route by five years.
CLdN announed the increase of freight capacity by adding one of the 8,000 lane metre “G9” ships.
Key points:
- Five-year extension of the existing space charter agreement.
- Increased freight capacity through additional lane metres (by using one of the 8,000 lane metre CLdN vessels LEONINE of CHAUMINE)
- Four weekly sailings in each direction between Zeebrugge and Gothenburg.
- Two freight vessels operated jointly on the route.
- Capacity shared, with commercial activities remaining fully separate.
CLdN has released its 2025 Carbon Report, outlining continued progress in decarbonisation across its operations.
Highlights include:
- Further improvement in fleet CO₂ efficiency in 2024
- Reduced CO₂ emissions from CLdN’s ports (excluding the effect of acquisitions)
- Expansion of on-site renewables and increased use of electric vehicles at port facilities
- Comprehensive inventory of scope 3 GHG emissions
- Continued modal shift from road to ship and rail within CLdN’s multimodal network
Click on the picture to download the report.
CLdN has published its 2024 fleet emission data, confirming its position as the most carbon-efficient short sea operator (according to its press release).
The company says it achieved a weighted average of 37g CO₂/tonne-km, down from 39g in 2023. “This performance is 9% better than its nearest competitor, over 30% better than the peer group average, and twice as efficient as road transport by heavy goods vehicle.
CLdN’s results reflect significant investment in larger, fuel-efficient RoRo ships and eco-upgrades of existing vessels, with EUR 750 million invested over the past decade. The fleet now includes more than 30 ships, with an average age of 14 years, compared to the peer group average of 18 years
COO Gary Walker said: “High-efficiency ships combined with proactive operational management continue to position CLdN as a leader. With the arrival of our new hybrid vessels CHAUMINE and LEONINE, we are confident we will drive emissions per tonne down further.”
More information will be available in CLdN’s upcoming Carbon Report.
Source: CLdN
CLdN plans to develop a new river berth for RoRo cargo vessels in Liverpool, in collaboration with Peel Ports Group.
The multi-million-pound investment will create a lock-free berth on the River Mersey, adjacent to CLdN’s existing facilities. This will allow seamless berthing of CLdN’s most efficient, higher-capacity ships.
- Consent application expected: H2 2026
- Construction could start: early 2028
Florent Maes, CEO of CLdN:
“This investment will bring significant benefits to customers, increase efficiency, and reduce the carbon footprint per freight unit. It underlines CLdN’s long-term commitment to developing port infrastructure and providing essential freight services between Great Britain and Ireland.”
Claudio Veritiero, CEO Peel Ports Group:
“CLdN’s investment is a strong vote of confidence in the Port of Liverpool. Together we will deliver a transformative project that enhances supply chain efficiency, cuts emissions, and creates lasting regional benefits.”
Source and Photo: CLdN
- CLdN has ordered five new electric rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes from Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd. for its Killingholme terminal, UK.
- The investment will enhance cargo handling and support growth on North Sea routes to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge.
- The RTGs will replace part of the diesel-powered reach stacker fleet, boosting efficiency, stacking capacity and lowering emissions.
- Each crane can lift 41 tonnes under spreader, spans nearly 35 metres, and stacks containers five high (18 metres).
- Construction is underway at Liebherr’s Killarney, Ireland, plant.
- Assembly and commissioning are planned for early 2026, with civil works at Killingholme already well advanced.
- With P&O Ferries discontinuing its Zeebrugge–Teesport service, CLdN is actively looking to fill the gap and expand its presence.
- The company has confirmed its long-term commitment to the Teesport route and is exploring further capacity increases between Zeebrugge and Teesport.
- A new Rotterdam–Teesport route is also under consideration, subject to market demand.
- CLdN launched its Zeebrugge–Teesport service in 2023 and already increased capacity earlier this year.
- A long-term agreement with PD Ports supports a stable and reliable freight connection to Northeast England and Scotland.
- Teesport offers direct rail links to Scotland and is the UK’s sixth-largest port.
- CLdN recently added two 8,400 lane metre hybrid RoRo vessels, enhancing its low-emission freight capabilities.
- With three UK East Coast destinations (Purfleet, Killingholme, Teesport), CLdN offers optimised last-mile logistics and reduced CO₂.
