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We promise. We deliver.

About Us

Grupo Sousa is based in Madeira and has over 1.000 employees in Portugal, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and on board own ships. We create value in the areas of cargo transport (maritime transport and integrated logistics), maritime passenger transport and energy.

178.109 TEU of maritime cargo transported

Maritime Cargo Transport | Shipowner - Transport carried out by GS Lines, both on national (Azores and Madeira Lines) and international (Portugal, Spain, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau) maritime routes. Available container fleet of 8.084 TEU.

341.497 passengers carried

Passenger Maritime Transport | RoPax Boat - On the maritime line between Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island, by Porto Santo Line shipowner.

251.785 TEU

Maritime Cargo Transport | Port Operations - Moved in the ports operated by Grupo Sousa.

492.423 passengers

Passenger Maritime Transport | Cruise Terminal - transited through the Lisbon Cruise Terminal operation.

42.077 TEU

Cargo transport | Integrated Logistics - transported by the logistics companies and terminals, corresponding to 277.846 m3 of groupage cargo transported and 44.368 m3 of general cargo.

1.338 LNG cryogenic containers

Energy - delivered by Gáslink, equivalent to 341 GWh, which corresponds to 14,5% of the energy mix of Madeira Island. Together with Windmad's wind farm, the energy delivered of 5,07 GWh caused a significant positive environmental impact (less 30.337 tons of CO2 and 1.556 tons of NOx emissions).

WE PROVIDE GLOBAL LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS

We offer global logistics solutions from producer to terminal, from port to ship to truck, to our warehousing facilities and distribution to final destinations. We are focused on providing integrated, innovative and reliable logistics services, primarily with our own resources, for the benefit of our customers. The timely and safe handling of our customers' cargo is our purpose.

Value Creation Models
  • Freight / Maritime transport:

    Shipowner, Port Operations, Shipping Agents, Shipmanagement

  • Cargo Transport / Integrated Logistics:

    Logistics Platforms, Forwarders, Road Carrier, Maintenance

  • Maritime Passenger Transport:

    RoPax Ferry, Hotels, Travel Agency, Cruise Terminal

  • Energy:

    LNG Virtual Pipeline, LNG Satellite Plant, Wind Farm, Photovoltaic Parks

Mission, Vision and Values

38 years of experience

 

+ 1.000 employees

Every day, more than 1.000 people contribute with their effort to the collective success that sets the Group’s path.

What Grupo Sousa is today is the result of everyone’s commitment, competitive spirit and a clear strategic vision shared with customers, suppliers and partners, which extends to the enhancement of human capital in the communities where it operates.

Mission

To provide integrated logistics solutions and services of excellence which, by favouring the use of our own means and based on solid and lasting relationships with our Partners and our People, leads us to create value in the regions where we operate.

Vision

To be recognised as the best maritime-port operator and logistics specialist of excellence, working, every day, with Partners and our People, guided by the principles and good practices of sustainability ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance)

Values

Our Values are the pillars of our action and the guarantee of being successful in our mission:

Credibility and Ethics. Making reliable and lasting commitments with our Partners and People, based on mutual trust.

Excellence. Ensuring security, flexibility and efficiency in all areas of action, with a focus on optimisation and continuous improvement.

Social Responsibility. Generating a measurable and lasting social impact within the communities where we operate, and ensuring the personal and professional development of our people.

TIMELINE - GRUPO SOUSA HISTORY

Grupo Sousa is founded (July 9, 1985)

in Madeira Island, Portugal, starting its activities as Shipping Agent and Forwarder;

Bitrans - Agência de Transitários (Madeira), Lda.

Grupo Sousa acquires a majority shareholding in Bitrans’ Share Capital;

Porto Santo Line, Transportes Marítimos, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Porto Santo Line;

Porto Santo Line, Transportes Marítimos, Lda.

takes part in the Share Capital increase of OPM – Sociedade Operações Portuárias da Madeira, Lda. subscribing a registered “quota” corresponding to 25% of the Share Capital;

Bitrans – Agência de Transitários (Madeira), Lda.

takes part in the Share Capital increase of OPM – Sociedade Operações Portuárias da Madeira, Lda. subscribing a registered “quota” corresponding to 5% of the Share Capital;

Steermar – Shipmanagement Services, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Steermar;

 

Bitranlis – Agentes Transitários, Lda.

Grupo Sousa acquires the Share Capital of Bitranlis, forwarder headquartered in Lisbon, through Bitrans – Agentes Transitários, Lda.;

Funchal Frio, Transportes Marítimos, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Funchal Frio, shipowner for the transport of bananas between Madeira Island and mainland Portugal and acquires the reefer vessel “Pico Frio”;

Opermad - Sociedade Gestora de Participações Sociais, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Opermad – Sociedade Gestora de Participações Sociais, Lda. subscribing 46% of its Share Capital;

 

ENM - Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, Lda.

Grupo Sousa acquires 33.75% of the Share Capital of ENM – Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, Lda., shipowner responsible for maritime freight transport between mainland Portugal and the Madeira archipelago, which operated continuously since 1907;

Sousa e Ramos, Lda.

Grupo Sousa acquires the first registered “quotas” of Sousa e Ramos, Lda. coming to hold a 60% of the Share Capital in this company, which held 25% of the Share Capital of ENM – Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, Lda.;

ENM - Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, Lda.

Grupo Sousa comes to hold the majority (58.75%)

of the Share Capital of ENM – Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, Lda.;

Opermad – Sociedade Gestora de Participações Sociais, Lda.

acquires the entire Share Capital of OPM – Sociedade Operações Portuárias da Madeira, Lda.;

Opertrans – Gestão de Equipamento de Transporte, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Opertrans – Gestão de Equipamento de Transporte, Lda.;

Opermad – Sociedade Gestora de Participações Sociais, Lda.

Grupo Sousa comes to hold the majority (51%) of the Share Capital of Opermad – Sociedade Gestora de Participações Sociais, Lda.;

Porto Santo Line, Transportes Marítimos, Lda.

Shipowner Porto Santo Line wins an international public tender for the operation of the maritime line between Madeira and Porto Santo Islands;

Betamar Torre Praia – Investimentos Turísticos, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Betamar Torre Praia – Investimentos Turísticos, Lda. and acquires the hotel “Torre Praia” in Porto Santo Island;

Betamar Praia Dourada – Investimentos Turísticos, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Betamar Praia Dourada – Investimentos Turísticos, Lda. and acquires the hotel “Praia Dourada” in Porto Santo Island;

Porto Santo Line “Lobo Marinho I”

Grupo Sousa acquires the ship “Lobo Marinho I”, to meet public service operational requirements, covering the maritime transport of passengers and cargo between the Madeira and Porto Santo Islands;

Porto Santo Line Travel, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Porto Santo Line Travel, Lda. travel agency focused on Porto Santo Island;

Betamar Rádio Ilha Dourada, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Betamar Rádio Ilha Dourada, Lda. and wins a public tender for a local radio station in Porto Santo – Rádio Praia;

Lobo Marinho – Investimentos e Participações Imobiliárias, Lda.

Lobo Marinho – Investimentos e Participações Imobiliárias, Lda. is incorporated, and acquires a 6,000 m2 warehouse in Alverca, Portugal, for Grupo Sousa’s forwarding operations in Lisbon area;

Ro-Pax “Lobo Marinho II”

Built in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, with 112m length overall, 20m beam, 8,072 gross tonnage, with the capacity to transport 1,153 passengers and 146 vehicles. “Lobo Marinho” was built between 2001 and 2003 by former Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo (ENVC). In 2004, the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (United Kingdom), one of the sector’s most reputed international organisations, included “Lobo Marinho” in the list of ” Most significant ships of 2003″, highlighting its design and building quality;

RoPax “Lobo Marinho”

Maiden voyage and operations start for the transport of passengers and cargo between Madeira and Porto Santo Islands;

Opertrans – Transporte de contentores, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Opertrans – Transporte de Contentores, Lda., a road carrier;

Opertrans – Transporte e Logística, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Opertrans – Transporte e Logística, Lda., road carrier for last mile distribution;

ENM - Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, Lda.

Grupo Sousa acquires the entire Share Capital of Empresa de Navegação Madeirense (ENM), following a long 13-year period, during which it progressively acquired registered “quotas” from different “registered quota holders” (the Share Capital was very dispersed);

GS Marítima, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates GS Marítima, Lda., (former ETF – Empresa de Tráfego do Funchal, Lda.);

Logislink, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Logislink, which carries out logistic operations and expedition services, operating in mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira. It provides regular transport services, consolidation and deconsolidation of containers, storage of dry, refrigerated and frozen cargo, stock management and picking;

Windmad – Energias Renováveis, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Windmad, renewable energy producer operating three wind turbines with an installed capacity of 2.55MW, in Madeira Island;

2010 | Acquisition of a new container ship "Funchalense 5"

Built in 2010, in Germany, with 126m length overall, 20m beam, 7.580 gross tonnage, and 724 TEU capacity;

Boxlines, Lda.

Grupo Sousa acquires Boxlines, shipowner responsible for regular coastal shipping between Lisbon-Leixões-Azores and Lisbon-Leixões-Madeira. The main activity is the transport of containerized and general cargo, between mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira;

 

Logislink warehouse in Cancela, Madeira

Constructed in 2011, the Logislink Cancela warehouse, in Madeira Island, Portugal, was inaugurated in 2012, with 11,504 m2 (5,814 m2 covered storage area for dry products, of which 2,280 m2 for refrigerated/frozen products). In 2018, this facility was expanded to 25,615 m2 (10,539 m2 of covered area);

Metal Lobos – Serralharia e Carpintaria, Lda.

Grupo Sousa acquires Metal Lobos – Serralharia e Carpintaria, Lda.;

Gáslink, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Gáslink, Lda.;

 

Transaje – Trânsitos e transportes, Lda.

Grupo Sousa acquires Transaje – Trânsitos e Transportes, Lda.;

 

 

Gáslink, Lda.

In a joint venture with GALP, wins an International Public Tender for the supply of natural gas to Central Termoelétrica da Vitória III (CTV III) (Thermoelectric Plant), with the purpose of providing integrated services for the regular supply of natural gas to CTV III, including, in addition to natural gas, the transport, as well as the provision, construction, operation and maintenance of an LNG Satellite Plant, along with the gas pipeline  for the delivery of natural gas to CTVIII;

 

Marfrete (Madeira) – Transitários e Navegação, Lda.

Grupo Sousa acquires Marfrete (Madeira) – Transitários e Navegação, Lda.;

TSA – Terminal de Santa Apolónia, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates TSA – Terminal de Santa Apolónia, Lda., holding 50% of the Share Capital, and wins the International Public Tender in Consortium with Grupo ETE;

LCP - Lisbon Cruise Ports, Terminal de Passageiros de Cruzeiro de Lisboa (Joint venture)

Following an international public tender, a public concession of 35 years is awarded for the construction and operation of the Terminal de Passageiros de Cruzeiro de Lisboa (Lisbon Cruise Passenger Terminal), to support cruise ships in the port of Lisbon, a joint venture with Global Ports Holding (GPH), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Creuers del Port de Barcelona. Grupo Sousa holds 30% of Share Capital of the Company;

PCI - Portline Containers International

Grupo Sousa acquires PCI – Portline Containers International, shipowner providing maritime transport services between Portugal, Spain, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau;

Acquisition of container ship "Laura S”

Built in 1998, in Portugal, with 120m length overall, 20m beam, 5.850 gross tonnage, and 600 TEU capacity;

PMar - CV, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates PMar – CV, Lda. (Cape Verde), a shipping agent;

PMar - Navegação, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates PMar – Navegação, Lda. a shipping and transit agent for maritime, air and land transport;

PMar – Guiné-Bissau Agência de Navegação, S.A.R.L.

Grupo Sousa incorporates PMar – Guiné-Bissau Agência de Navegação, S.A.R.L., a shipping agent;

Marmod, Lda.

Grupo Sousa acquires 75% of Marmod – Transportes Marítimos Intermodais, comprising: Marmod – Transportes Marítimos Intermodais and Agemar – Navegação e Trânsito. It provides transport, transit and logistics services to and from all parts of the globe, with a strong presence in Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau;

Logislink acquires a new warehouse in Cancela, Madeira

The Logislink facilities in Cancela are expanded to 25.615 m2 (10.539 m2 of covered area);

Acquisition of container ship "Raquel S”

Built in 2009, in Japan, with 172m length overall, 27m beam, 17.280 gross tonnage, and 1.577 TEU capacity. “Raquel S” is the largest and most modern container ship owned by a Portuguese shipowner and is operated by GS Lines;

Bitranlis, Bitrans and Transaje merged into Logislink

Between 2018 (Bitranlis and Transaje) and 2019 (Bitrans) are merged into Logislink;

GS Lines

Is incorporated through the merger of Shipowners acquired by Grupo Sousa, in a long process started in 1990 with Empresa de Navegação Madeirense and Funchal Frio, in 2010 with Boxlines and in 2015 with Portline Containers International (PCI);

 

Acquisition of container ship "Rebecca S"

Built in 2007, in China, with 129m length overall, 20m beam, 7.584 gross tonnage, and 679 TEU capacity;

 

ENM FERRIES - Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates ENM Ferries – Empresa de Navegação Madeirense. Wins an international public tender for a ferry service to transport passengers and cargo, for three years, between Funchal and Portimão;

Newspar - Multimédia, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Newspar – Multimédia, Lda. which holds 40% of the Share Capital of Diário de Notícias da Madeira;

Portugs

Grupo Sousa acquires Svitzer-Portugal operation, a maritime tugboat company with vast experience, operating a fleet of 12 tugboats, in the ports of Lisbon and Setúbal, in Portugal;

LogiC

Grupo Sousa acquires LogiC – Logística Integrada, Lda., company offering logistics solutions and projects adapted to each client. In 2022, LogiC increases its warehousing space, with a warehouse in Vialonga, Portugal, with 27.800 m2, of which 15.286 m2 of covered area for cross docking operations;

LogiC

LogiC acquires “Quinta do Adarse” warehouse in Alverca, Portugal, with 32.648 m2 of which, 13.760 m2 of covered storage area for dry products;

Acquisition of the container ship "Ferdinanda S"

Built in 2008, in Japan, with 172m length overall, 27m beam, 17.280 gross tonnage, and 1.577 TEU capacity;

Logislink warehouse in Ponta Delgada, Açores

The Logislink warehouse is built and inaugurated in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, in Azores, Portugal, with 20.467 m2 (8.348 m2 covered storage area for dry products, of which 1.481 m2 for refrigerated/frozen products);

Adarse - Investimentos Imobiliários, Unipessoal, Lda.

Grupo Sousa incorporates Adarse – Investimentos Imobiliários, Unipessoal, Lda.

Portugs

Grupo Sousa reduces its position in Portugs´shareholding to 10%

OUR LEADERSHIP

Message from the Chairman
Luís Miguel Sousa
Chairman, Founder & CEO

We are proudly based in Madeira Island, Portugal and, over the last 38 years, Grupo Sousa has become the leading cargo ship owner and one of Portugal’s leading port operators. We are rated among the top 100 shipowners in the world, accumulating vast experience in this sector, as well as in port operations, logistics and, more recently, energy.

This is the result of commitment and perseverance.

 

We are committed to serving our customers better, to establishing lasting partnerships with suppliers and subcontractors, to retaining qualified, motivated and experienced personnel.

 

We persist in providing high-quality services, through integrated logistics chains, to provide “door-to-door” logistics solutions, mainly with our own resources, as a result of the hard work of our teams.

 

With perseverance, we anticipate market trends and offer cutting-edge solutions to our customers, always seeking to do better, continuously creating and recreating in order to provide innovative solutions of recognised credibility.

 

Grupo Sousa operates in extremely demanding markets where only very competitive companies can aspire to survive and succeed. We respond to challenges with professionalism and dedication through our people, our team, men and women who are fundamental pillars, indispensable support for our growth and strength.

 

Grupo Sousa focuses on the verticality of its operations through an integrated range of services, and this operating regime is one of our differentiating factors in driving our efforts to build sustainable businesses. Our permanent goal is to balance the environmental, social and governance components of our current operations, in the geographies where we operate, for the benefit of all the stakeholders involved.

 

We stand by our motto: We promise. We deliver.

 

Report and Accounts