en.Wedoany.com Reported - Swedish shipping company Wallenius Sol has acquired the Ro-Ro vessels Bothniaborg and Balticborg from Dutch operator Royal Wagenborg, and simultaneously signed a long-term freight agreement with packaging company Smurfit Westrock.

The deal was announced on July 30, with the existing transport contract between Royal Wagenborg and Smurfit Westrock to be transferred to Wallenius Sol, ensuring continuity of transport services for the Piteå paper mill in Sweden. Smurfit Westrock operates Europe's largest kraft linerboard plant, with an annual capacity of 700,000 tonnes. Under the agreement, cargo handling will gradually transition to a Ro-Ro cassette system, which will later be integrated into Wallenius Sol's planned new fleet.

Wallenius Sol CEO Elvir Dzanic stated that the acquisition and freight agreement expand the company's transport capacity while strengthening its shipping network. Royal Wagenborg CEO Egbert Vuursteen noted that Bothniaborg and Balticborg have served Smurfit Westrock since 2004, and the sale aligns with the company's strategic focus on ice-class general cargo shipping operations.

Wallenius Sol revealed that it has committed over €250 million ($288 million) to fleet development, with additional expenditure planned as the shipping network expands.