What Samskip Ísland does

Samskip Ísland (legal entity Samskip hf., registered in Iceland, kt. 440986-1539) is a multimodal logistics provider headquartered in Reykjavík, operating since 1991 as part of the broader Samskip Group with offices in 20+ countries. The company offers an integrated freight transport platform spanning international multimodal shipping (sea, land, and air), import and export services between Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and continental Europe, domestic coastal shipping and trucking across more than 50 Icelandic service points, and specialized cargo handling including full container loads (FCL), less-than-container loads (LCL), temperature-controlled shipping via the Coolboxx sub-brand, and personal effects/vehicle transport through Bílaport Samskipa. Supporting infrastructure includes a 130,000 m² freight terminal, cold and freezer storage, port and terminal operations, and a used container sales business.

Underlying technology combines physical multimodal assets (20 vessels, 20,000 containers, 470 rail wagons, 520+ trucks) with proprietary digital tools, most notably the LÓA LCL shipment management system developed in collaboration with Reykjavik University and the Coolboxx refrigerated container technology capable of preserving product quality for up to 45 days on long-haul routes. The customer-facing layer includes a dedicated service portal (thjonusta.samskip.is), online shipment tracking, sailing schedule system, and a household goods moving calculator.

Revenue is generated through transaction fees on transport services (FCL, LCL, domestic, personal effects), managed-services fees for warehousing and cold storage, professional services for port and agency work, and hardware sales for used containers. Pricing is uniformly quote-based across all service categories, with go-to-market executed via direct enterprise field sales, dedicated quote forms by service line, and B2B participation in industry events such as Seafood Expo Global. Customer segments are diversified across import/export enterprises, domestic shippers, seafood producers, food and beverage companies, automotive importers, and individual relocation customers.

Name

Samskip Ísland

Legal name

Samskip hf.

Website

https://samskip.is

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Samskip Ísland is an Icelandic multimodal logistics company offering international freight, domestic transport, warehousing, cold storage, and port services as part of one of Europe's largest integrated sea-rail-road networks, serving enterprise customers in seafood, food and beverage, automotive, and relocation segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multimodal Freight Transport and Logistics Services

NAICS

Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311), Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111), Marine Cargo Handling (488320)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Water Transportation (4400), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)

akta.pro primary industry

Temperature-Controlled Intermodal & Cross-Border Reefer Transport (TLADAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reefer/Temperature-Controlled Ocean Forwarding (TLACABAI), Terminal Cargo Handling & Yard Operations (Receiving, Staging, Delivery) (TLAHALAB), Reefer Container (Port/Intermodal) Cold Storage & Plug-In Yards (TLALABAK), Food & Beverage (Non-Pharma Cold/Chilled/Frozen) (TLAIALAI)

Keywords

• Multimodal freight transport
• Cold chain logistics
• Container shipping services
• Domestic cargo transport
• Warehousing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavík

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Multimodal Container Transport: Core revenue stream from shipping containers via sea routes, including full container load (FCL) and less-than-container load (LCL) shipments across international routes to/from Iceland and within the European multimodal network.
2. Domestic Transport Services: Coastal shipping and inland transport services within Iceland, including cargo handling and last-mile delivery to various postal code locations across the country.
3. Warehouse and Cold Storage Services: Provision of warehouse facilities (130,000 m² freight terminal) and temperature-controlled storage (cold and freezer storage) for customer cargo.
4. Harbor Services and Port Operations: Port services including cargo handling, terminal operations at Duisburg Rail Terminal, and ship agency services through Samskip Agency.
5. Used Container Sales: Sale of used shipping containers (gámasala) to customers for storage or transport purposes.
6. Personal Effects and Vehicle Transport: Household goods relocation (búslóðaflutningar) and car transport services to/from Iceland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Samskip Ísland operates one of Europe's largest multimodal transport networks, providing international freight forwarding (import/export) and domestic cargo transport connecting Iceland and the Faroe Islands to global markets via integrated sea, rail, and road services. The company supplements its transport operations with 130,000 m² of warehousing and cold storage facilities, port and terminal services, container sales, and specialized personal effects and vehicle transport. The portfolio serves enterprise customers across food and beverage, seafood, automotive, and industrial verticals, with dedicated Coolboxx temperature-controlled container technology for cold chain logistics.

Product overview

Samskip Ísland operates as a comprehensive multimodal logistics provider offering integrated freight transport services across Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and international markets. The portfolio includes a core transport platform spanning international freight (import/export), domestic coastal shipping and trucking, and specialized services including full container loads (FCL), less-than-container loads (LCL), and cold chain solutions via the Coolboxx brand. Supporting infrastructure includes warehousing, cold storage facilities, port services, and vehicle transport. Digital tools such as the Þjónustuvefur customer portal, shipment tracking, sailing schedule system, and a moving calculator round out the offering. The company also provides container sales and operates a network of offices across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Samskip Coolboxx: Temperature-controlled transport solutions for perishable goods with technology maintaining quality for up to 45 days
• Bílaport Samskipa
• Samskip Agency
• LÓA

Products and services

• International Freight Transport (Alþjóðaflutningar) Multimodal freight transport connecting Iceland and the Faroe Islands to global markets via sea, land, and air routes for enterprise import/export customers.
• Import Transport (Innflutningur) Import transport services for goods arriving in Iceland, with end-to-end logistics support from international origins to domestic destinations.
• Export Transport (Útflutningur) Export transport services for goods leaving Iceland, including full container loads (FCL) and less-than-container loads (LCL) for enterprise exporters.
• Domestic Transport (Innanlands) Domestic transport services across Iceland including coastal shipping and trucking reaching all regions, with coverage spanning postal codes 104 to 900.
• Full Container Load & Special Solutions (Heilfarmsendingar & sérlausnir) Full container load (FCL) shipping and special cargo solutions for oversized, heavy, or specialized freight including construction materials and industrial liquid cargo.
• Personal Effects and Vehicle Transport (Búslóða- og bílaflutningar) Household goods relocation and vehicle transport services to and from Iceland for individual customers and car dealerships, supported by an online moving volume calculator.
• Warehousing Services (Vöruhús) Warehousing services at Samskip's 130,000 m² freight logistics center for storage of goods before or after transport operations.
• Cold and Freezer Storage (Kæli- og frystigeymslur) Temperature-controlled (chilled) and freezer storage facilities for perishable goods, integrated with Coolboxx refrigerated container technology for cold chain continuity.
• Port and Harbor Services (Hafnarþjónusta) Port and harbor services including cargo handling, terminal operations at Duisburg Rail Terminal, and ship agency services for maritime customers.
• Samskip Agency Services Agency services within the Samskip network for freight forwarding coordination and third-party representation at various port locations.
• Bílaport Samskipa (Car Import and Transport) Vehicle import and transport services including car shipping to and from Iceland, with vehicle clearance and inspection services for dealerships and individual importers.
• Used Container Sales (Gámasala) Sale of new and used shipping containers to customers for storage or transport purposes.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO₂ emissions reduced by more than 50% on many routes through multimodal transport compared to road-only shipping
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• Samskip Multimodal B.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary operating the extensive European multimodal transport network, handling combined transport operations with terms and conditions governed by Dutch law and Rotterdam jurisdiction.
• Samskip Logistics B.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary handling global forwarding and NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) activities with worldwide sales offices and specialized logistics services.
• Samskip VandierencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortal-based subsidiary providing specialized logistics services accessible through dedicated customer portal.
• Jónar TransportsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTransport partner operating in the Icelandic market, with services integrated into the Samskip network ecosystem.
• Nor LinessupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorwegian transport company operating as part of the Samskip network for Nordic shipping routes.
• Hallands Hamnar (Halmstad Port)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish port partnership for new weekly sailing service to Halmstad starting September 2026, strengthening transport routes to and from Iceland through continental Europe.
• PwC IcelandsupportingOthersExternal audit firm conducting equal pay certification and salary data analysis for company compliance.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CMA CGM: World's third-largest container carrier with extensive reefer and multimodal capabilities through its CEVA Logistics arm. Comparable as a broad ocean and contract logistics incumbent.
• DSV: Global transport and logistics provider with strong road, air, sea and intermodal forwarding capabilities across Europe. Comparable as a broad multimodal incumbent that competes with Samskip's forwarding and contract logistics services.
• Hapag-Lloyd: Major global container shipping line with strong North Atlantic and intra-Europe services. Comparable as a broad ocean container incumbent competing for the same reefer and FCL shippers.
• Maersk: Largest global ocean container carrier integrating ocean shipping with inland logistics. Comparable as the dominant ocean container incumbent on the Europe–North Atlantic trade lanes that anchor Samskip's network.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with integrated sea, air and overland capabilities including reefer and cold-chain solutions. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same enterprise shippers using Samskip's forwarding arm.
• MSC: Second-largest global container shipping line operating across all major trade lanes including the North Atlantic. Comparable as a broad ocean container incumbent on Samskip's core Europe routes.
• DB Schenker: European-headquartered logistics provider offering land, air, ocean and contract logistics, including rail and intermodal. Comparable as a broad European incumbent competing for multimodal and rail freight contracts.

Direct peers

• DFDS: Northern European ferry and integrated logistics operator combining ro-ro/ferry sailings with road and intermodal transport. Highly comparable to Samskip's combined sea-plus-truck multimodal model, although DFDS is much larger in passenger and freight ferry.
• Eimskip: Iceland's other principal multimodal container and reefer operator serving the same Iceland–Europe trade lanes as Samskip, with overlapping sailings, cold-chain services and domestic Icelandic presence. The closest direct competitor by geography, product mix and customer base.
• P&O Ferries: European ferry operator combining passenger and freight ferry services with connecting road transport across the North Sea. Comparable to Samskip as a ferry-plus-inland multimodal operator in Northern Europe, though with different geographic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/samskip%C3%ADsland

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Samskip Ísland