Spliethoff Group

What Spliethoff Group does

Spliethoff Group is a privately held Dutch shipping company headquartered in Amsterdam, founded in 1921, that operates a diversified fleet of approximately 145 specialized vessels through seven business units: Spliethoff (dry cargo/multipurpose), Sevenstar Yacht Transport and DYT (yacht transport), BigLift Shipping (heavy lift and project cargo), Bore (Ro-Ro tonnage), Wijnne Barends (shortsea), Transfennica/Transfennica Logistics (Ro-Ro and door-to-door logistics), and ForestWave (offshore and multipurpose, acquired September 2024). The fleet includes multipurpose tween-deckers, heavy lift vessels up to 2,200 mt capacity, shortsea vessels, Ro-Ro vessels, semi-submersible yacht carriers, and module carriers, with most vessels holding Swedish/Finnish Ice Class 1A or 1A Super qualification enabling year-round Baltic and Scandinavian operations.

The Group serves enterprise B2B customers across general cargo, forest products, paper, heavy and oversized cargo, renewable energy components, yacht transport, Ro-Ro, and shortsea segments, reaching them through dedicated commercial sales teams at each business unit, industry events, and a corporate digital presence. Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based freight contracts, charter agreements, spot bookings, and time-charter tonnage provision (notably Bore), with quote-based pricing that varies by cargo type, route, volume, and contract terms. The Group's commercial offering is differentiated by in-house engineering and logistics capabilities, integrated door-to-door solutions, and a sustainability agenda that includes scrubber installations, battery energy storage systems contracted for eight newbuilds, LNG-powered RoLo vessels, and the Spliethoff Group Green biofuel option for low-carbon cargo transport.

Spliethoff is family-founded and has remained under private ownership for over a century, with no disclosed parent company, external institutional investors, or public market listing. The Group holds ISO 14001 environmental certification, follows ISO 27001 and NIST cybersecurity controls, is GDPR-compliant, and maintains offices in the Netherlands, Finland, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the United States to support operations across European waters, the Baltic, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Basin, the US East Coast, and the Great Lakes.

Name

Spliethoff Group

Legal name

Spliethoff's Bevrachtingskantoor B.V.

Website

https://spliethoffgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Spliethoff Group is a privately held Dutch shipping company founded in 1921 that operates a diversified fleet of approximately 145 specialized vessels across seven business units, serving enterprise B2B customers in dry cargo, heavy lift, yacht transport, Ro-Ro, shortsea, and offshore logistics worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Shipping Services

NAICS

Water Transportation (483), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Breakbulk / General Cargo Vessel Operators (TLADABAK)

Keywords

• Multipurpose shipping
• Heavy lift transport
• Yacht transportation
• Shortsea services
• Ro-Ro cargo

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Dry Cargo and Project Cargo Shipping: Spliethoff operates a fleet of about 50 multipurpose ice-classed vessels providing worldwide ocean transport of general cargo, project cargo, heavy and oversized cargo. Revenue generated through freight contracts, charter agreements, and spot bookings for dry cargo shipments.
2. Yacht Transport Services: Sevenstar Yacht Transport and DYT Yacht Transport provide yacht transportation through lift-on/lift-off and float-on/float-off methods. Sevenstar uses liner services with nearly 500 vessels globally; DYT operates purpose-built semi-submersible yacht carriers.
3. Ro-Ro and Shortsea Services: Transfennica operates modern Ro-Ro fleet with 20+ knot speeds for fast European transport. Wijnne Barends operates 35 multipurpose shortsea vessels on routes to Scandinavia, Baltic States, Western Europe, and Mediterranean. Revenue from freight and charter contracts.
4. Heavy Lift and Project Cargo: BigLift Shipping handles heavy, oversized, and special cargoes with heavy lift vessels up to 2,200 mt lifting capacity and heavy transport vessels for ro-ro cargoes up to 16,000 mt. Revenue from project-based shipping contracts.
5. Ro-Ro Tonnage Provision: Bore manages a fleet of ro-ro, ro-flex and ro-lo vessels available on time charter to third parties, providing sustainable and economical transport solutions.
6. Door-to-Door Logistics Services: Transfennica Logistics offers door-to-door container and trailer services for dry and temperature-controlled cargoes within Europe, integrating intermodal and contract logistics solutions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Spliethoff Group operates a modern fleet of approximately 145 specialized vessels to provide worldwide maritime transport services including dry cargo shipping, heavy lift and project cargo, yacht transportation, Ro-Ro cargo, and shortsea services. The company serves enterprise clients across industries including forest products, paper, energy, offshore, and industrial cargo through seven operating subsidiaries headquartered in Amsterdam.

Product overview

Spliethoff Group is a leading Dutch shipping company headquartered in Amsterdam with over a century of maritime expertise, operating a large and modern fleet of around 145 vessels. The company offers a broad portfolio of specialized shipping services organized around seven business units: Spliethoff (dry cargo/multipurpose), Sevenstar Yacht Transport and DYT (yacht transport), BigLift Shipping (heavy lift/project cargo), Bore (RoRo tonnage), Wijnne Barends (shortsea), Transfennica/Transfennica Logistics (Ro-Ro and door-to-door), and ForestWave (offshore logistics). Services span general and project cargo, heavy oversized cargo, yacht transport, Ro-Ro cargo, shortsea services, renewables, containers, and door-to-door solutions, with vessel types including multipurpose tween-deckers, heavy lift vessels, shortsea vessels, Ro-Ro vessels, semi-submersible vessels, and module carriers. The group also offers Spliethoff Group Green as a sustainable bio-fuel shipping option.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spliethoff: Dry cargo and multipurpose specialist operating about 50 modern, ice-classed vessels ranging from 12,000 to 23,000 tonnes.
• Sevenstar Yacht Transport
• DYT Yacht Transport
• BigLift Shipping
• Bore
• Wijnne Barends
• Transfennica
• Transfennica Logistics
• ForestWave
• Spliethoff Group Green

Quantifiable outcome

• Fleet of 140+ vessels ranging from 2,100 to 23,000 tonnes provides capacity for diverse cargo requirements
• +2 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• EchandianotableTechnology or Integration · 28 October 2025Echandia has been awarded a contract to supply battery energy storage systems for eight newbuild cargo vessels owned by Spliethoff Group, being constructed at Wuhu Shipyard in China. The battery systems will enhance generator efficiency, stability, and fuel savings, with an option for two additional ships. Deliveries scheduled starting April 2027, supporting vessels' operation primarily on the Finland-USA trade route.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BBC Chartering: BBC Chartering is one of the world's largest operators of multipurpose vessels and a leading breakbulk and project cargo carrier. Directly comparable to Spliethoff's core dry cargo and BigLift operations in vessel type, customer base (industrial shippers, project cargo), and global tramp service model.
• Royal Wagenborg: Royal Wagenborg is a Dutch family-owned shipping group operating multipurpose and shortsea tonnage across Northern Europe and the Baltic. Directly comparable to Spliethoff's Wijnne Barends and Transfennica businesses in terms of geography, vessel profile, and privately-held Dutch maritime heritage.
• Hansa Heavy Lift: Hansa Heavy Lift operates a fleet of heavy lift multipurpose vessels serving project cargo, energy, and breakbulk customers worldwide. Directly comparable to BigLift Shipping's 21 heavy lift vessels and similar customer overlap in energy, infrastructure, and offshore project logistics.
• SAL Heavy Lift: SAL Heavy Lift is a Germany-based operator specializing in heavy lift project cargo with a fleet of combined heavy lift and heavy transport vessels. Directly comparable to BigLift's mixed heavy lift and heavy transport tonnage, especially for oversized cargoes in the renewables and oil & gas sectors.
• Nordana Lines: Nordana operates multipurpose vessels serving breakbulk, project cargo, and Ro-Ro customers primarily in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Comparable to Spliethoff's multipurpose tween-decker and ForestWave operations in vessel versatility and project cargo customer base.
• Stena Line: Stena Line is a major Swedish-owned Ro-Ro and ferry operator with strong presence in the North Sea and Baltic. Directly comparable to Transfennica's and Wijnne Barends' shortsea Ro-Ro operations in Northern Europe, particularly on routes serving Scandinavia and the Baltics.

Broad incumbents

• A.P. Moller-Maersk: Maersk is the world's largest container shipping line and integrated logistics provider. While Spliethoff does not compete head-on in pure container shipping, Maersk's logistics and project cargo arms overlap with Transfennica Logistics' door-to-door container and trailer services within Europe.
• MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company: MSC is the world's second-largest container line and a broad ocean freight incumbent with growing breakbulk and project cargo capabilities. Overlaps with Spliethoff in container transport via Spliethoff's bimonthly Europe-USEC/Great Lakes sailings and Transfennica's European Ro-Ro network.
• Cargill Ocean Transportation: Cargill's Ocean Transportation division operates a large fleet of dry bulk vessels and tonnage for agricultural and industrial cargoes. Overlaps with Spliethoff's general dry cargo business in cargo type (forest products, agricultural commodities) and in the arrangement of ocean freight for industrial shippers.

Emerging players

• Fairmount Marine: Fairmount Marine is a Dutch operator specializing in heavy lift and ocean towing, serving offshore oil & gas and renewables customers. Partial overlap with ForestWave's DP offshore services and BigLift's project cargo capabilities in the offshore energy segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spliethoff Group