WALLENIUS SOL has expanded its ice-classed fleet by acquiring the RoRo vessels Bothniaborg and Balticborg from Royal Wagenborg, alongside securing a long-term Contract of Affreightment with Smurfit Westrock. This strategic move ensures uninterrupted year-round logistics for Europe’s largest kraftliner mill in Piteå while allowing Wagenborg to refocus on its core general cargo operations. The partnership aligns with WALLENIUS SOL’s ongoing investment roadmap to scale sustainable, renewable-fuel maritime infrastructure across the Bay of Bothnia.
Göteborg, Sweden | July 30, 2026 – In a major strategic consolidation of northern European maritime logistics, industrial RoRo specialist WALLENIUS SOL has announced the acquisition of two ice-classed RoRo vessels, the Bothniaborg and the Balticborg, from Royal Wagenborg. Alongside the vessel acquisition, the company has secured a long-term Contract of Affreightment (CoA) with Smurfit Westrock, operator of Europe’s largest kraftliner mill based in Piteå, Sweden.
The transaction bolsters WALLENIUS SOL’s operational footprint in the demanding Bay of Bothnia trade lanes while allowing Royal Wagenborg to refocus its strategic capital on core general cargo operations.
Strengthening the Northern Maritime Backbone
Established in 2019 to construct a sustainable maritime logistics corridor for the industries of the Baltic region, WALLENIUS SOL has rapidly evolved into northern Europe’s leading industrial RoRo carrier. Operating a specialized fleet that includes multi-fuel flagships like the Baltic Enabler and Botnia Enabler, some of the world’s largest ice-breaking RoRo vessels, the company bridges the industrial heartland of the Bay of Bothnia with key continental European ports.
The addition of the Bothniaborg and Balticborg immediately scales up WALLENIUS SOL’s cargo capacity and asset resilience. This expansion ensures uninterrupted, year-round service frequency across northern trade routes, a critical requirement given the region’s severe winter conditions where ice cover can disrupt sea lanes for up to five months annually.
“This acquisition is a natural continuation of what we set out to build, a reliable, sustainable maritime backbone for the industries of northern Europe. By investing in transport infrastructure capacity and welcoming Smurfit Westrock as a long-termed partner, we strengthen both the reach and the resilience of the system,” said Elvir Dzanic, CEO of WALLENIUS SOL.
Securing Smurfit Westrock’s Piteå Logistics Flow
Under the terms of the agreement, Wagenborg’s pre-existing Contract of Affreightment with Smurfit Westrock will formally transfer to WALLENIUS SOL AB. This transition guarantees complete continuity of supply chain operations for Smurfit Westrock’s Piteå mill, which stands as Europe’s largest kraftliner facility with an annual production capacity of 700,000 tonnes of unbleached and white-top kraftliner.
As the single largest private employer in Piteå, the facility maintains stringent sustainability mandates, operating predominantly on renewable energy. The partnership is slated to evolve over time; WALLENIUS SOL plans to integrate Smurfit Westrock’s volumes deeper into its broader shipping network, upgrading cargo handling from traditional stowage modes to efficient RoRo cassette operations. Eventually, these flows will transition to next-generation tonnage under WALLENIUS SOL’s ongoing newbuilding roadmap.
“This strategically important agreement secures long-term transport capacity, strengthens our competitiveness, and supports the transition to fossil-free maritime transport, benefiting both our operation and our customers’ sustainability goals,” noted Ulf Aili, CEO of the Piteå Paper Mill.
Wagenborg Refocuses on Core General Cargo
For Royal Wagenborg, the sale of the Bothniaborg and Balticborg represents a measured alignment with its long-term corporate strategy. While the company’s venture into RoRo shipping has yielded decades of reliable service, dating back to its initial collaboration with Smurfit Westrock in 2004, Wagenborg is redirecting its operational focus toward its foundational strengths in ice-class general cargo shipping, ports, terminals, and offshore logistics.
“Bothniaborg and Balticborg have been at the heart of a long-standing collaboration with Smurfit Westrock since 2004, At the same time, we are pleased that both vessels have found a new home with WALLENIUS SOL to continue their journey,” stated Egbert Vuursteen, CEO of Royal Wagenborg.
Capital Investment and Sustainability Roadmap
The transaction underscores WALLENIUS SOL’s aggressive capital deployment strategy. To date, the company has committed upwards of 250 million EUR in modern fleet investments, backed by further substantial planned expenditures. These investments directly support the carrier’s corporate roadmap targeting 100% renewable fuel operations by 2035 and a trajectory toward net-zero harmful environmental impacts by 2045.
By absorbing Smurfit Westrock’s significant export volumes, WALLENIUS SOL maximizes the utilization of its heavy-investment ice-class infrastructure, further cementing its commercial viability in one of Europe’s harshest maritime operating environments.
ABOUT SMURFIT WESTROCK – PITEÅ
Smurfit Westrock’s mill in Piteå is the largest kraftliner facility in Europe, with an annual capacity of 700,000 tonnes of unbleached and white-top kraftliner. The mill is Piteå’s largest private employer and operates with a strong commitment to sustainability and largely fossil-free production.
ABOUT WAGENBORG
Founded in 1898, Royal Wagenborg is an international maritime logistics conglomerate. The family-owned and managed company offers a variety of sustainable maritime logistics services with regard to shipping, ports & terminals, and offshore services. Managed out of its Delfzijl (NL) headquarters, Wagenborg has built a global commercial network. With about 3,000 employees, Wagenborg serves clients predominantly in the Baltic, Northwest Europe, the Mediterranean, the Americas, and the Far East.
ABOUT WALLENIUS SOL
WALLENIUS SOL is an innovative shipping company with the mission to enable truly sustainable logistics in Northern Europe. With a modern, ice-classed, multi-fuel fleet and a liner network connecting the Bay of Bothnia with key ports across Northern Europe, the company is committed to building long-term, resilient maritime infrastructure for the region’s industries. WALLENIUS SOL targets 100% renewable fuel operations by 2035 and zero harmful environmental impact by 2045.
Source: Wallenius SOL