APSS

What APSS does

APSS — Administração dos Portos de Setúbal e Sesimbra, SA — is a Portuguese state-owned port authority incorporated as a public limited company (SA) under the Portuguese government, responsible for managing two port facilities: Porto de Setúbal, the main commercial port handling automotive exports (notably for Autoeuropa via dedicated double-decker rail), containerized cargo, and cruise operations, and Porto de Sesimbra, a shelter port providing nautical and fishing services. The organization operates as a unified port management structure delivering infrastructure access, intermodal logistics (road, rail, sea), and cargo handling services to shipping lines, cruise operators, and maritime logistics companies.

Its core service portfolio comprises the two port facilities themselves (positioned as core services under sub-brands 'Porto de Setúbal' and 'Porto de Sesimbra'), complemented by digital services including a real-time web statistics portal (Estatística via Web), the Portnews email newsletter, and the Academia Portuária de Setúbal training initiative. The underlying technology stack includes a Microsoft 365 webmail environment, a public-facing multilingual website (Portuguese/English/Spanish), social media channels, and an Office 365 collaboration backend. Quality management is certified under ISO 9001, and ESG/sustainability infrastructure (solar monitoring, carbon footprint display) is visible across headquarters and operational sites.

The business model is that of a regulated government port authority: revenue is generated through port tariffs, berth fees, and service charges to shipping lines, cruise operators, and cargo handlers, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion is direct B2B engagement with shipping companies and industrial exporters; there is no investor ownership (no private equity, venture capital, or institutional shareholders), no M&A activity, no funding rounds, and no subsidiaries. Customer concentration is anchored by Autoeuropa (automotive) and CMA CGM (container shipping via the AGPOME service). APSS operates exclusively within Portugal, serving the Setúbal and Sesimbra regions, with 101-250 employees.

Name

APSS

Legal name

APSS - Administração dos Portos de Setúbal e Sesimbra, SA

Website

https://portodesetubal.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

APSS is a Portuguese state-owned port authority managing Porto de Setúbal and Porto de Sesimbra, providing port operations, intermodal logistics, and maritime services to shipping companies, cruise operators, and cargo handlers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Operations & Maritime Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIALAF

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Transportation & Infrastructure Agencies (Roads, Transit, Public Works)

SECONDARYTLAHAFAI

Port Operations Control Center / Port Call Orchestration

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Port & Harbor Operations (Harbor Master, Vessel Scheduling, Towage Coordination)

SECONDARYTLAHAOAH

Cargo Visibility, Track & Trace & Port Analytics (ETA/ETD, Dwell, Predictive)

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Port Community Systems & Maritime Digital Services (Port IT, EDI, Single Window)

Keywords

• Port operations
• Maritime logistics
• Cargo handling
• Intermodal transport
• Cruise operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Setubal, Setúbal

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

APSS is a Portuguese state-owned port authority that manages and operates the ports of Setúbal and Sesimbra, providing maritime infrastructure, cargo handling, intermodal logistics (road, rail, and sea), cruise operations, and nautical/fishing services. It supports automotive exports via rail-connected facilities and shipping line operations (e.g., CMA CGM's AGPOME service), complemented by digital services such as a web statistics portal and a port training academy.

Product overview

APSS (Administração dos Portos de Setúbal e Sesimbra, SA) is a Portuguese port administration authority managing two port facilities: Porto de Setúbal and Porto de Sesimbra. The organization operates a single unified port management structure, providing infrastructure, logistics, and operational services. Digital services include a web statistics portal, newsletter subscription (Portnews), and online publications. The portfolio consists of core port operations, intermodal logistics services, cruise operations, and ancillary training services through the Academia Portuária.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Porto de Setúbal Main port facility operated by APSS, located in Setúbal, Portugal. Handles various cargo operations including automotive exports (Autoeuropa), intermodal logistics with rail connections, container shipping (CMA CGM AGPOME line), and cruise operations.
• Porto de Sesimbra Secondary port facility operated by APSS, located in Sesimbra, Portugal. Functions as a shelter port providing nautical services and fishing industry support.
• Estatística via Web (Web Statistics Portal) Online web statistics portal providing real-time operational data and metrics for port operations, accessible at bi.portodesetubal.pt:8080. Available in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.
• Portnews Newsletter Email newsletter subscription service providing updates on port news, announcements, and operational developments at APSS ports.
• Academia Portuária de Setúbal Port academy initiative providing training and professional development for port industry personnel and maritime professionals.

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CMA GCMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CMA GCM reinforced presence at Porto de Setúbal with the 'AGPOME' shipping line in 2021, indicating a strategic operational partnership for maritime logistics services.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• APDL - Administração dos Portos do Douro, Leixões e Viana do Castelo: Northern Portuguese state port authority operating Leixões and other northern ports; comparable institutional structure, governance model, and service portfolio to APSS.
• Autoritat Portuària de Barcelona: Catalan port authority with comparable mix of container, cruise, and automotive logistics services; provides a like-for-like Iberian port-authority benchmark for APSS.
• Administração do Porto de Lisboa (APL): Portuguese public port authority managing the Port of Lisbon; the closest domestic peer to APSS as it performs the same port authority, infrastructure management, and cargo/cruise coordination role on the same national coastline.
• Administração do Porto de Sines e do Algarve (APS): Portuguese state port authority for Sines, the country's largest deepwater port and direct competitor to APSS for container and energy cargo on the Atlantic coast of Portugal.
• Autoridade Portuária de Valencia: Spanish state port authority managing one of the Mediterranean's largest container ports; comparable public-authority structure with similar cruise, container, and automotive logistics capabilities to APSS.
• Autoridade Portuária de Leixões (within APDL): Major Portuguese port near Porto handling containers, cruise, and breakbulk; directly competes with APSS for national cargo distribution and offers a like-for-like Iberian port-authority benchmark.

Broad incumbents

• Puertos del Estado: Spanish national coordinating body for the state port system; broader in scope than APSS but operates the same public-authority model and oversees ports competing for the same Iberian cargo flows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/portosetubal
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/portofsetubal
• Facebookpt-pt.facebook.com/portodesetubal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apss
• Instagraminstagram.com/portodesetubal

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 APSS