Freire Shipyard

What Freire Shipyard does

Freire Shipyard (Astilleros Freire) is a fourth-generation, family-owned custom shipbuilder headquartered in Vigo, Galicia, Spain, founded in 1895 by Don Paulino Freire Piñeiro. The company designs, engineers, constructs, and commissions complex steel and steel-aluminum vessels on a bespoke basis, with more than 300 vessels delivered to clients in over 30 countries since the 1960s. Its portfolio spans oceanographic and research vessels, large sailing yachts, megayachts and passenger vessels, commercial fishing and aquaculture support ships, naval and defense vessels (patrol boats, diving support, training sailing ships), and offshore oil-and-gas support units.

The shipyard's core technology is an in-house technical office that integrates naval architecture, engineering design, steel and steel-aluminum construction, outfitting, and commissioning under one roof, enabling tight control over highly customized, technically complex projects. Notable capabilities include dynamic positioning-equipped research platforms (e.g., Falkor (too) for Schmidt Oceanographic Institute, Thuwal II for KAUST), military-spec naval vessels (e.g., 111m KRI Bima Suci for the Indonesian Navy, A22 Proserpina for the Spanish Navy, four FMV vessels for Sweden), and early-stage integration of hydrogen propulsion with technology partners such as Hexagon Purus Maritime on the 75m Greenpeace vessel. The firm holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications covering design, construction, and commissioning.

Revenue is generated primarily through bespoke newbuild shipbuilding contracts (long-cycle, project-based, one-time per vessel) with secondary revenue from repair, maintenance, hull lengthening, and vessel conversion services. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales: the technical and commercial teams engage shipowners (naval administrations, research institutions, private yacht owners) on a project-by-project basis through competitive tender and direct negotiation. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The customer base is global and diversified across research, defense, megayacht, and commercial fishing segments, with active projects currently spanning Spain, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Norway, and Indonesia.

Name

Freire Shipyard

Legal name

Freire Shipyard

Website

https://freireshipyard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Freire Shipyard is a fourth-generation, family-owned custom shipbuilder in Vigo, Spain, designing and constructing complex steel and steel-aluminum vessels—oceanographic research ships, megayachts, naval and fishing vessels—for clients in more than 30 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Shipbuilding

NAICS

Ship and Boat Building (3366), Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support) (IMAJAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surface Combatants (Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes) (IMAJABAA), Naval & Government Vessel Maintenance & Modernization (TLAKAKAB), Hull, Structure & Steelwork Repair (TLAKAKAE)

Keywords

• Custom shipbuilding
• Oceanographic vessel construction
• Naval vessel construction
• Vessel repair services
• Megayacht construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Vigo

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. New Ship Construction: Freire Shipyard generates revenue primarily through bespoke shipbuilding contracts. Projects are highly customized, technically complex vessels designed and constructed to order for demanding international clients. Revenue is project-based and typically long-cycle, covering the full engineering, construction, and commissioning lifecycle.
2. Repair and Transformation Services: The shipyard also offers vessel repair, maintenance, lengthening (alargamiento de eslora), and conversion services, providing a secondary revenue stream from the existing fleet of clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Freire Shipyard designs, engineers, constructs, repairs, and remodels highly customized steel and steel-aluminum maritime vessels, including oceanographic research ships, large sailing vessels, luxury megayachts, fishing vessels, naval/defense vessels, and offshore support units. The shipyard integrates naval architecture, engineering design, construction, outfitting, and commissioning under one roof for demanding international shipowners, supported by an in-house technical office.

Product overview

Freire Shipyard is a shipbuilding and repair company offering a comprehensive portfolio of custom-built vessels. The core offering consists of specialized steel and steel-aluminum vessels including oceanographic research vessels, large sailing yachts, megayachts, fishing vessels, naval/defense vessels, and offshore support vessels. The company also provides integrated services including naval engineering, design, construction, and commissioning. In addition to new vessel construction, the company offers repair, maintenance, hull elongation, and vessel conversion services. Notable current projects include the Thuwal II oceanographic research vessel for KAUST (50m, delivery 2027) and a 75-meter vessel for Greenpeace with hydrogen storage systems supplied by Hexagon Purus Maritime.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oceanographic and Research Vessels

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ vessels delivered to customers in more than 30 countries since the 1960s
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2025KAUST has commissioned Freire Shipyard to build the 50-m oceanographic research vessel Thuwal II, scheduled for delivery in 2027. The vessel will support autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) research and environmental studies in the Red Sea, as part of Saudi Arabia's Future Mobility Sandbox initiative at Thuwal on the Red Sea coast. This is a flagship research vessel project in a key strategic market (Saudi Arabia Vision 2030).
• Hexagon Purus MaritimecoreTechnology or Integration · 8 January 2025Hexagon Purus Maritime secured a contract to supply hydrogen storage tanks for a 75-meter vessel being built by Freire Shipyard for Greenpeace. This project positions Freire Shipyard at the forefront of sustainable hydrogen-powered vessel construction, integrating advanced hydrogen propulsion technology into a large ocean-going vessel.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Navantia: Navantia is Spain's state-owned large naval shipbuilder with shipyards in Ferrol, Cádiz, and Cartagena, building frigates, patrol vessels, and naval auxiliaries for the Spanish Navy and export customers. It is the dominant Spanish player in naval construction, making it the natural broad incumbent peer against which Freire competes for defense and government vessel tenders.
• Damen Shipyards Group: Damen is a Dutch global shipbuilding group operating more than 30 yards worldwide, building workboats, patrol vessels, naval auxiliaries, and offshore support ships. It is a broad incumbent competing with Freire for naval auxiliary and patrol boat contracts across international tenders, especially in Europe and Latin America.
• Fincantieri: Fincantieri is Italy's largest shipbuilder and one of the world's biggest, building cruise ships, ferries, naval vessels, and offshore units across multiple European yards. As a broad incumbent with Vard (offshore) and a deep naval portfolio, it competes for the same high-end naval and research vessel opportunities that Freire targets, but at substantially greater scale.

Direct peers

• De Hoop Shipyard: De Hoop is a Dutch family-owned custom shipbuilder focused on luxury megayachts, expedition vessels, and specialized commercial ships, with a reputation for high-end outfitting and bespoke naval architecture. Direct peer to Freire in the megayacht and large custom vessel segment, with similar one-off build philosophy and target clientele.
• Astilleros Armón: Astilleros Armón is a Spanish family-owned shipbuilder with multiple yards along the Iberian coast that builds fishing vessels, offshore support vessels, tugs, and patrol boats. Directly comparable to Freire in vessel categories (fishing, offshore, naval auxiliaries) and Spanish regional shipbuilding footprint, though typically at smaller vessel sizes and higher unit volumes.
• Royal Huisman: Royal Huisman is a Dutch custom builder of large sailing superyachts and performance sailing vessels, founded in 1884, headquartered in Vollenhove. Closely comparable to Freire's Grandes Veleros and megayacht product line in terms of bespoke design, premium craftsmanship, and limited annual throughput of highly customized yachts.
• Fassmer Shipyards: Fassmer is a German family-owned shipbuilder specializing in naval and patrol vessels, offshore wind service vessels, and custom research ships. Comparable to Freire's naval and research vessel product lines, particularly as a competitor for European coast guard and research institute tenders.
• Astilleros Balenciaga: Astilleros Balenciaga is a Spanish family-owned shipyard based in Zumaia, building offshore vessels, fishing trawlers, and small-to-medium naval and coast guard ships. Comparable to Freire in being a Spanish family-run yard competing in offshore and fishing vessel niches, although at smaller vessel sizes.

Regional players

• Ulstein Shipyard: Ulstein is a Norwegian shipbuilder specializing in offshore service vessels, expedition cruise ships, and complex customized vessels, with strong design capabilities via Ulstein Design & Solutions. Comparable to Freire in the offshore and expedition vessel categories and the integrated design-build model, though primarily serving Nordic and North Sea markets.

Emerging players

• Hike Metal Products: Hike Metal Products is a Canadian family-owned shipbuilder on the Great Lakes building patrol boats, coast guard vessels, and small research ships for government clients. Comparable to Freire as a smaller bespoke shipyard competing for government research and patrol vessel contracts, though operating at materially smaller vessel sizes and in a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freireshipyard

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Freire Shipyard