GS Lines is the result of an acquisition process of shipowners initiated in 1990 with the purchase of Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, Box Lines in 2010 and Portline Containers International (PCI) in 2015. Currently, GS Lines operates 6 vessels – 5 of them owned and 1 chartered – with a total capacity of 5,765 containers, on the maritime lines between mainland Portugal, Azores and Madeira, Spain (Canary Islands and Algeciras), Cape Verde (Praia, Mindelo, Sal and Boavista) and Guinea-Bissau.
Em 1985 é constituído o Grupo Sousa.
This increase in the market meant that the “Funchalense III” became small for the Leixões-Madeira traffic, so that, since 2005, there was already a search for a vessel that would serve the line for the needs of the time, as well as in a perspective of future evolution. There were no vessels available on the market, either to buy or to charter, so it was only in January 2006 that the purchase of a vessel, “CMA CGM Caracas”, was guaranteed, but it would only be free to operate in December 2006, taking on the name of “Madeirense 3” at that time.
The steady growth of the Leixões line led to the replacement of FUNCHALENSE in 2006 by a larger container ship, named MADEIRENSE 3
in Enterprise of Madeirense Navigation 1907-2007, Luís Miguel Correia, page 118, image 137 to 138.
These two variables (capacity and speed) combine to provide a sense of high quality to the Autonomous Region of Madeira, perceived by our customers, who will in fact be the main beneficiaries of this important investment. Note the evolution of a company (and the world): In 83 years (since our first motorboat) we went from “Funchalense I”, which transported around 300 tons of cargo and made the trip Lisbon – Madeira in about 4 days, to “Funchalense 5” which can carry more than five thousand tons of cargo and can make the same trip in about 28 hours.
In 2019, the goods transport service between mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions of Azores and Madeira is now provided by GS Lines, which operates four vessels, two of which are its own vessels (Funchalense 5 and Laura S) and two are chartered-in.
In November 2019, Portline Containers International (PCI) became part of GS Lines, in a process of acquisition of shipowners initiated in 1990, with the purchase of the Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, Box Lines in 2010, and PCI in 2015.
Currently, GS Lines operates 7 vessels – 4 of which are its own and 3 chartered – with a total capacity of 6,778 TEU, in the following areas maritime lines between mainland Portugal, Azores and Madeira, Spain (Canary Islands and Algeciras), Cape Verde (Praia, Mindelo, Sal and Boavista) and Guinea-Bissau.
GS Lines will maintain the 3 vessels, previously operated by PCI, in the operation with Cape Verde, offering the fastest route in the connection with the city of Praia, in only 5 days, with a guarantee of 4 sails per month from Lisbon.