We will have to get used to calling the company UK-based. As of late May, CLdN has finalised the move of its shipping operations from Luxembourg to the United Kingdom. The company calls it “a natural evolution”. CLdN has been operating freight connections to the UK for more than 60 years and owns and operates port terminals in London (Purfleet), Killingholme (Humber) and Liverpool. Around three-quarters of CLdN sailings currently start or end in a UK port.
In connection with the move, CLdN welcomed UK Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather to its London terminal in Purfleet last Thursday, 21 May. The previous day, the company had announced an expansion of its UK-Ireland operations. That move came after the acquisition earlier this year of the interests of Samskip in these markets.
New London HQ
The operational move to the UK will, says CLdN, help the operator benefit from the talent pool and maritime expertise that the UK offers as a leading seafaring nation. “CLdN’s decision to base its shipping operations in the UK underlines the strength of our ports, our people and our economy, and is exactly the kind of investment that drives growth, supports trade and creates quality jobs,” said Minister Keir Mather. “I know the scale of CLdN’s ambition here in the UK, and with new headquarters in London, operations in Purfleet and more UK jobs on the way, it’s a clear sign of confidence in our economy.”
A CLdN team, including CEO Florent Maes, provided a tour of the 130-hectare Purfleet facility. The company considers it an essential trade gateway between the UK and mainland Europe. CLdN operates 17 return sailings per week between Purfleet and its ports in Zeebrugge and Rotterdam. CLdN management also gave its perspective on the current trading environment and held a briefing aboard the CLdN vessel MV Pauline (pictured above).
Commitment to the UK
“We were delighted to welcome the Minister to our Purfleet terminal and have had very constructive interactions with the UK authorities in preparing the move of our shipping operations,” said Florent Maes, CEO. “CLdN has been providing direct freight links for customers between mainland Europe and the UK for more than 60 years, and we are further strengthening these links, particularly through the recently announced acquisition of Samskip’s UK and Ireland services. We continue to demonstrate our commitment to the UK through our extensive port investment programme and deployment of enhanced shipping services on our routes across the North Sea and Irish Sea.”
CLdN operates a fleet of 30 cargo ships and owns and operates nine port terminals in the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands. The company transports some 1.5 million cargo units each year to and from the UK, including trailers, containers and new cars. CLdN’s fleet is also recognised for its carbon efficiency, reporting the lowest emissions per tonne of cargo carried compared to other short-sea freight operators in its sector.
Ireland-UK enhancements
CLdN has been investing significantly in its UK port terminals in recent years, with infrastructure developments in its London (Purfleet), Killingholme (Humberside) and Liverpool (Brocklebank) terminals totalling some EUR 100 million. These investments have enhanced cargo storage and handling efficiency to cater for projected growth in freight traffic in the coming years.
In February, CLdN acquired the UK and Ireland door-to-door and quay-to-quay activities of Samskip. Now, the company has announced an enhanced schedule of routes across the Irish Sea. CLdN currently offers 24 direct sailings per week between the Irish ports of Dublin and Cork and the European mainland (Rotterdam, Zeebrugge and Santander). Once regulatory clearance is confirmed and the deal is closed, CLdN will also be able to provide customers with dedicated container connections to the ports of Waterford and Belfast, as well as additional sailings to Dublin and Cork.
“This will provide increased operational flexibility and sailing frequency for customers as well as further reductions in CO2 emissions per unit,” said a company statement. “The new offering is fully aligned with CLdN’s strategy of providing complementary Ro-Ro services for mixed cargo and Lo-Lo services specifically for containers, and to use its own fleet of in-house designed ships.
Specialist containers and a new fleet
In early 2027, CLdN will start taking delivery of a fleet of its own newbuild container ships, as reported earlier by WorldCargo News. These vessels will have a cargo capacity of 1,100 TEU and will complement CLdN’s fleet of more than thirty Ro-Ro vessels.
The acquisition of Samskip’s UK & Ireland business also included around 5,000 45ft pallet-wide containers and a significant fleet of 20ft and 40ft flatrack and 45ft refrigerated containers. “The combination of this enhanced cargo equipment fleet with the increased number of sailings will set the benchmark for door-to-door services between Ireland and mainland Europe, with particularly extensive connections with Italy and Central and Eastern Europe,” said the company.