Grupo Sousa was established in 1985. The shipping business began in 1998 with the progressive acquisition of shares of a regional shipowner – Empresa de Navegação Madeirense – from various shareholders, culminating in the acquisition of 100% of its capital in 1990.
This shipowner operated, initially, with chartered ships and, later, with its own ships, guaranteeing regular container ship connections between the ports of Lisbon, Leixões and Funchal.
In 1989, the ship-owner Porto Santo Line was set up to transport goods between Madeira and Porto Santo with the ship “Madeirense”, which was converted in 1989 to transport passengers as well.
In 1990 the shipowner Funchal Frio is constituted and the ship “Pico Frio” is acquired, followed by the ship “Atlas Frio”, refrigerated vessels that guaranteed the transport of bananas from Madeira to Portuguese mainland.
In 2006, the vessel “Madeirense 3” is acquired in order to adapt the operation to the growing needs of the Madeira market.
In 2010, container ship “Funchalense 5” was acquired, a modern vessel, which had her inaugural call in Portugal August 17th 2010. The speed of “Funchalense 5”, can reach 18,5 knots, guaranteeing strict compliance with the established routes – which was already happening with the “Madeirense 3” – but with a higher safety margin.
These two variables (capacity and speed) are combined in order to provide a high quality service to the Autonomous Region of Madeira, as perceived by our clients, who are in fact the main beneficiaries of this important investment. The progressive evolution of the ships revealed Grupo Sousa ability to respond and adapt to the growing needs of the market, which continued in the following decade.
In 2010, the Group acquired Boxlines shipowner, responsible for the maritime connections between mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira. This contribution of experience was fundamental for the growth of the Group in the coverage of maritime lines in the national market and in the service to the two Portuguese Autonomous Regions.
In 2015, Grupo Sousa acquired Portline Containers International (PCI), which operated the international lines between Portugal, Algeciras, Las Palmas, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau, with 3 chartered vessels. In 2019 the vessel “Raquel S” was acquired, being the largest and most modern container ship owned by national shipowners.
In November 2019, GS Lines merges Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, Boxlines and PCI, culminating a process of shipowner acquisitions, initiated in 1990, with Empresa de Navegação Madeirense and Funchal Frio, of Boxlines in 2010, and of PCI in 2015.
GS Lines currently operates 6 vessels – 5 owned and 1 chartered – on the sea lines between mainland Portugal, Azores and Madeira, Spain (Canary Islands and Algeciras), Cape Verde (Praia, Mindelo, Sal and Boavista) and Guinea-Bissau.
GS Lines has two own ships, of 1.577 TEU each, in operation with Cape Verde, offering the fastest route in the connection with the city of Praia, in only 5 days.
