WALLENIUS SOL has announced the acquisition of two RoRo vessels from Royal Wagenborg, Bothniaborg and Balticborg, together with a long-term Contract of Affreightment (CoA) with Smurfit Westrock, Europe’s largest kraftliner mill, located in Piteå, Sweden.
Founded in 2019 with a clear mandate to build a sustainable logistics infrastructure at sea for the industries of the Baltic region, WALLENIUS SOL has grown into northern Europe’s leading industrial RoRo carrier. With its fleet of ice-classed vessels, including the multi-fuel flagships Baltic Enabler and Botnia Enabler, among the world’s largest ice-breaking RoRo ships, the company operates a scalable, open system connecting the Bay of Bothnia’s industrial heartland with key ports across Northern Europe.
The acquisition of Bothniaborg and Balticborg from Wagenborg extends WALLENIUS SOL’s fleet and capacity, reinforcing its ability to serve the region’s industrial customers with reliable, frequent, and sustainable connections year-round — including during the demanding winter ice season.
Smurfit Westrock’s mill in Piteå is the largest kraftliner facility in Europe, with an annual production capacity of 700,000 tonnes of unbleached and white-top kraftliner. The mill is also Piteå’s largest private employer and operates with a strong sustainability profile, with its operations powered primarily by renewable energy. As part of this transaction, Wagenborg existing Contract of Affreightment with Smurfit Westrock will transfer to WALLENIUS SOL AB, ensuring full continuity of service for the mill’s logistics operations.
The partnership will evolve over time as WALLENIUS SOL integrates Smurfit Westrock’s volumes fully into its shipping network, transitioning from current stowage modes to RoRo cassette operations and eventually connecting the Piteå flow to next-generation vessels as part of WALLENIUS SOL’s long-term newbuilding programme.
“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,” says Ulf Aili, CEO of the Piteå Paper Mill.”
The transaction represents Wagenborg’s strategic focus on its core activities in ice class general cargo shipping. While RoRo operations have played a valuable role over the years, Wagenborg is confident that Bothniaborg and Balticborg, together with the associated contract, will be in strong hands at WALLENIUS SOL’s established and growing network. WALLENIUS SOL’s scalable infrastructure and long-term investment commitments provide the right platform to continue developing these services for the benefit of industrial customers in the Bay of Bothnia.
“Bothniaborg and Balticborg have been at the heart of a long-standing collaboration with Smurfit Westrock since 2004. Together, we have built and operated a reliable service in a demanding region, which makes this a moment we look back on with appreciation. At the same time, we are pleased that both vessels have found a new home with WALLENIUS SOL to continue their journey,” says Egbert Vuursteen, CEO Royal Wagenborg.
WALLENIUS SOL has committed more than 250 MEUR in fleet investments to date, with a further significant MEUR in planned investments, as part of its roadmap to achieve 100% renewable fuel operations by 2035. The addition of Smurfit Westrock’s volumes further strengthens the utilisation and viability of this infrastructure, reinforcing the company’s role as the natural partner for sustainable sea logistics in northern Europe.
The Bay of Bothnia faces some of the most demanding operating conditions in Europe, with ice covering the sea lanes for up to five months each year. WALLENIUS SOL’s fleet, operating according to fixed weekly schedules, keeps these corridors open, enabling the industries of northern Sweden and Finland to remain competitive in global markets.
