SHIPPING AGENTS - LINER SHIPPING - NATIONAL AND FOREIGN SHIPS

Transinsular, AZores

Transinsular - Transportes Marítimos Insulares SA, Azores, was incorporated on the initiative of the Portuguese Government by Decree-Law 336/84, dated 18 October, following the extinction of the public undertakings CTM (Companhia de Transportes Marítimos - Maritime Transportation Company) and CNN (Companhia Nacional de Navegação - National Shipping Company).

According to its statutes, the company's object focused on maritime transportation to the Autonomous Regions of Madeira and the Azores. However, it has not excluded other markets or activities associated with maritime transportation.

The company began its business operations in March 1985 and its mission was to reorganise the regular maritime transportation services to the Autonomous Regions of Madeira and the Azores, which were quite degraded due to the economic and financial difficulties CTM was going through.


In 1986, Transinsular already had an important position in the Autonomous Regions' market and, apart from liner shipping, it also established medium-term contracts for cement transportation to the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

hat same year, the company acquired six ships that would replace their own or chartered fleet, with which the company had started its business operations.

Company's Development

Apart from the investment in new units, Transinsular made various investments that allow it to have a ship fleet with maintenance, conservation and safety conditions well above the minimum standards required.

Traninsular owns the concession of the TML container terminal in Xabregas, which allows it to provide its customers with broader and better cargo tracking..

Transinsular holds shares of a small group of 10 associated companies with over 300 employees. Among them are companies from Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau. Last August, Navique, a Mozambican Shipping Company, also joined the group.

In April 1999, ETE-Empresa de Tráfego e Estiva (Traffic and Stowage Company) acquired the majority share (99.6%) of Transinsular-Transportes Marítimos Insulares, S.A.

This operation was the culmination of negotiations carried out by the previous shareholder, CMB-Compagnie Maritime Belge N.V., which held control of the company since 1993. Therefore, Transinsular, which is currently the biggest Portuguese ship-owner of liner services with a fleet of 8 ships and turnover of around 15 billion escudos, became part of a Portuguese Group again.

The company will maintain and reinforce its role in the Portuguese maritime transportation market, especially in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira and also in Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Angola and Mozambique.

Traninsular, as part of the ETE Group, will be better prepared to meet the main challenge for the future: the ability to offer its customers integrated transportation solutions. Solutions that go beyond the management of ships and port operations but that increasingly include the integration of services and intermodal facilities.