Transinsular - Transportes Marítimos Insulares

What Transinsular - Transportes Marítimos Insulares does

Transinsular - Transportes Marítimos Insulares, S.A. is a Portuguese maritime cargo shipping company founded in 1984 and headquartered in Lisbon. It is the largest Portuguese cargo ship-owner (armador) and is wholly owned by Grupo ETE, a 100% Portuguese conglomerate founded in 1936. The company operates scheduled liner services connecting mainland Portugal to the Azores archipelago (Transinsular Express+, weekly), the Madeira archipelago (Madeira Express, twice weekly), Cabo Verde (Cabo Verde Expresso 3.0, weekly with 660 TEU capacity), and Morocco (Maroc Express, weekly). It is supported by a network of 21 ports and a worldwide agent network spanning more than 20 countries.

The company operates a fleet of 8 ships, both owned and chartered, and approximately 7,000 containers spanning 30+ typologies including reefers, High Cube, Palletwide, Open Side, Open Top, Platform, Flat Racks, Flat Car, and Bulk units, with capabilities for custom container prototypes. Specialized services include refrigerated cargo under Controlled Atmosphere (Star Fresh/Star Care), bulk cargo transport (cement, iron, grain, sand, wood) via self-unloading and conventional ships, liquid fuel distribution via tankers, live cattle transport certified by DGAV, vehicle transport, and chartering. The fleet sails more than 550,000 nautical miles annually, transporting over 200 million TEUs (or 850,000 tonnes) per year, with 80% of port calls in national ports.

Transinsular generates revenue primarily through transaction-fee maritime freight transport, chartering services, shipping agency services through regional subsidiaries (Transinsular Madeira since 1998, Transinsular Açores since 1985), and container rental and handling. Pricing is quote-based with surcharges including Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF), Currency Adjustment Factor (CAF), and Demurrage & Detention (D&D) fees. Major enterprise customers include Pronicol (dairy), Cofaco (seafood processing), Cimentos Madeira (construction materials), Insular-Produtos Alimentares (food distribution), and Quinta dos Açores (agriculture/dairy). Distribution combines direct enterprise sales with a broader agent network across Europe, Africa, and beyond. The company holds ISO 9001 certification and is pursuing PRR-funded sustainability retrofits across its fleet.

Name

Transinsular - Transportes Marítimos Insulares

Legal name

Transportes Marítimos Insulares, S.A.

Website

https://transinsular.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Transinsular is the largest Portuguese cargo ship-owner, operating scheduled maritime liner services connecting mainland Portugal to the Azores, Madeira, Cabo Verde, and Morocco with a fleet of 8 ships and ~7,000 containers, serving enterprise customers in perishables, bulk commodities, and vehicle transport.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Freight Services

NAICS

Water Transportation (483), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Mainline Container Liner Carriers (TLADABAA)

Keywords

• Maritime cargo transport
• Container shipping services
• Refrigerated container logistics
• Bulk cargo shipping
• Island freight services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisboa

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Maritime Freight Transport: Core business of regular maritime transport services connecting mainland Portugal to Azores, Madeira, Cabo Verde, Morocco and other international destinations. Revenue generated from containerized cargo, bulk cargo, and vehicle transport.
2. Chartering Services: Charter-out and charter-in contracts for vessels. Management of charter contracts based on customer needs.
3. Shipping Agency Services: Shipping agency services through subsidiaries in Madeira and Azores, including port operations, customs clearance, and technical supply to ships.
4. Container Rental and Handling: Revenue from container rental, cleaning fees, and related accessorial services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Transinsular is a Portuguese maritime cargo ship-owner operating scheduled liner and charter services that connect mainland Portugal to the Azores, Madeira, Cabo Verde, and Morocco. The company transports containerized, bulk, refrigerated, vehicle, and live animal cargo using a fleet of 8 ships and approximately 7,000 containers. It also provides shipping agency, port operations, and customs clearance through wholly-owned regional subsidiaries.

Product overview

Transinsular operates as a maritime cargo shipping company offering a comprehensive suite of transport services. The core portfolio consists of scheduled liner services connecting mainland Portugal to island territories: Transinsular Express+ (Azores archipelago, weekly), Madeira Express (Madeira archipelago, twice weekly), Cabo Verde Express 3.0 (Cape Verde, weekly with 660 TEU capacity), and Maroc Express (Morocco, weekly). These are complemented by bulk cargo transport (Granéis), refrigerated cargo (Reefer), special cargo solutions, live cattle transport, and vehicle transport. The company operates a fleet of approximately 7,000 containers of various types and manages 8 vessels. An extensive global agent network in 20+ countries supports international operations. All services are integrated under the parent Grupo ETE (100% Portuguese capital), which provides complementary port operations, logistics, and shipping agency services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Transinsular Expresso+: Regular transport service for containerized cargo, break bulk cargo, and vehicles between mainland Portugal and all islands of the Azores archipelago, with weekly departures from the mainland. Also guarantees regular connections between the Azores and Madeira archipelagos.
• Madeira Expresso
• Cabo Verde Expresso 3.0
• Transinsular Maroc Express

Products and services

• Transinsular Express + (Azores) Regular weekly transport service for containerized cargo, break bulk cargo and vehicles between mainland Portugal and all nine islands of the Azores archipelago (São Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, Pico, Faial, São Jorge, Graciosa, Flores and Corvo). Also guarantees regular connections between the Azores and Madeira archipelagos.
• Madeira Express Regular transport service for dry and refrigerated containers, vehicles and general cargo between mainland Portugal and the Madeira archipelago (Madeira and Porto Santo), with two weekly departures.
• Cabo Verde Express 3.0 Direct weekly liner service connecting Portugal to Cape Verde in 6 days, with inter-island rotation serving Sal Rei, Palmeira, Praia and Mindelo, operated by vessels Lagoa, Ponta do Sol and BMI Express with 660 TEUs capacity.
• Transinsular Maroc Express Direct weekly liner service connecting Portugal to Morocco, with departures on Thursday from Leixões and Friday from Lisbon, arriving in Casablanca on Sunday.
• Bulk Cargo Service (Granéis) Transport of non-containerized cargo, homogeneous or not, without predefined schedules, based on the principle of 'one cargo, one ship'. Operates self-unloading and conventional ships for solid bulk (cement, iron, grain, sand, wood) and tankers for liquid fuel distribution.
• Reefer Cargo Service Refrigerated container transport service for perishable cargo requiring controlled temperature conditions such as vegetables, fruit, fish, meat and pharmaceuticals. Includes Controlled Atmosphere Service (CAS) with Star Fresh (Active CA) and Star Care (Passive CA) variants.
• Chartering Service Management of charter-out and charter-in vessel contracts to meet market and customer needs.
• Special Cargo Service Custom transport solutions tailored to customer needs, including development of container prototypes that meet specific cargo requirements.
• Live Cattle Transport Maritime transport of live animals (cattle, sheep, goats, equines and pigs) in certified containers, authorized by DGAV (Direção Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária).
• Vehicle Transport (Flatcar) Vehicle transport service using specialized flat platform equipment capable of carrying 5-6 vehicles simultaneously to Azores and Madeira.
• Shipping Agency Services Shipping agency services through subsidiaries in Madeira and Azores, including port operations, customs clearance, and technical supply to ships and superyachts.

Quantifiable outcome

• €62+ million annual revenue
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Grupo ETEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1936Parent company of Transinsular. Grupo ETE is a 100% Portuguese capital group founded in 1936, operating in port operations, maritime transport, river transport, ship agencies, engineering, shipbuilding and repair, ship and crew management, logistics and forwarding. The group includes over 40 companies with more than 750 employees across 6 countries.
• Transinsular MadeiracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary established in 1998, based in Funchal, representing Transinsular in the Madeira archipelago. Present in ports of Caniçal, Funchal, and Porto Santo. Shipping agent for Transinsular and Vieira & Silveira, providing support to regular and non-scheduled lines and cargo services.
• Transinsular Açores (Mareaçor)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary established September 17, 1985, based in Ponta Delgada, representing Transinsular in the Azores archipelago. Shipping agent on São Miguel island, providing regular and non-regular shipowner agency, chartering, and stowage services.
• Noatum Maritime (AD Ports Group)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransinsular's agent in Morocco since 2025. Part of AD Ports Group, providing operational and commercial support for Transinsular's operations in Morocco with extensive maritime sector experience and local market knowledge.
• NAVEX Cabo VerdecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransinsular's agent in Cabo Verde with offices in Boavista, Praia (Santiago), Mindelo (São Vicente), and Sal. Provides shipping agency and special cargo transport project services.
• Menzell Döhle Shipping GmbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransinsular's agent in Germany providing liner services for ports in Germany and Poland, with coverage also extending to Russia.
• BoeckmansmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransinsular's agent in Belgium (Antwerp) and Netherlands (Rotterdam). Founded in 1935, Boeckmans is a well-known liner agency with offices in both countries.
• Sea Shipping ServicesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransinsular's agent in France. Founded in 2009 with over 40 years of sector experience by Jean Yves Depreaux. Has branch in Normandy since 2011.
• Tripcovich - Shipping AgencymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransinsular's agent in Italy serving the port of Genoa. Based in Trieste.
• Sea WorldmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransinsular's agent in Turkey serving the port of Ambarli (Istanbul).
• ASECO Container Services A/SmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransinsular's agent managing cargo and transhipments to and from Denmark and Norway. Founded in 1970, ASECO operates across Scandinavia, Finland, Russia, Baltic States, Central Europe, Western Europe, UK, and USA.
• ASECO ABmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransinsular's agent in Sweden managing cargo to and from Gothenburg. Founded in 1972, owned by USS United Shipping Services AB.
• Independent Maritime Agencies (INDMAR)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransinsular's agent in the UK managing cargo to and from Felixstowe port. Freight logistics and maritime services company.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Grimaldi Group: Italian multinational operating ro-ro, car carrier, and container vessels across Europe, West Africa, and the Americas. Overlaps with Transinsular on Mediterranean and West Africa routes and operates at significantly larger scale.
• MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company: Global container liner giant with significant presence on Atlantic, Mediterranean, and West Africa trade routes. As the largest global container carrier, MSC competes indirectly through feeder networks and is a potential threat to niche regional operators like Transinsular.

Direct peers

• Cobelfret Group: Private European group operating ro-ro and container services across the North Sea, Ireland, and Iberia. Comparable as a private, family-owned maritime operator specializing in regional shortsea container and ro-ro trade.
• WEC Lines: European container feeder operator providing shortsea connections across Iberia, UK, Ireland, and West Africa. Comparable in scale and operating model as an independent regional container liner serving niche routes.
• Boluda Lines: Spanish maritime operator providing container feeder services connecting Iberian Peninsula with Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and West Africa. Strong overlap with Transinsular's island-connection strategy and Atlantic/West Africa geographic footprint.
• Naviera Armas / Fred. Olsen Express: Combined Spanish/Canary Islands ferry and cargo operator providing regular container, vehicle, and passenger services. Strong overlap with Transinsular in island cargo and inter-island connectivity, particularly in Atlantic archipelagos.
• Portline Transports Marítimos: Portuguese maritime cargo operator providing container and bulk services connecting mainland Portugal with international markets. Closest direct competitor to Transinsular within Portugal, with overlapping liner service capabilities.
• Suardiaz Group: Spanish family-owned shipping and logistics group offering container, ro-ro, and bulk services, particularly across the Iberian Peninsula, Canary Islands, and Mediterranean. Comparable mid-sized regional liner with similar ownership profile.

Emerging players

• X-Press Feeders: One of the world's largest independent container feeder operators focused on regional and intra-Europe/Mediterranean connections. Comparable in providing liner services to ports that global carriers underserve, similar to Transinsular's island positioning.

Regional players

• Noatum Maritime (AD Ports Group): Maritime services arm of AD Ports Group operating in Mediterranean, North Africa, and Iberian regions. Already a Transinsular agent in Morocco since 2025, demonstrating a partially overlapping role in regional maritime services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/transinsular
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-SfTpFBd_xzYiTBtaE7LpA?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/transinsular
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transinsular
• Instagraminstagram.com/transinsular.sa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Transinsular - Transportes Marítimos Insulares