The Fleets
This page covers Empreza Insulana de Navegacao, Insular Line, Insular Navigation Company and Companhia Portuguesa de Transportes Maritimos.
Empreza Insulana de Navegacao was formed 1871 by Bensaude & Cia, Sao Miguel, Azores to provide a regular service from Portugal to the Azores after withdrawal of Empreza Luzitana (Bailey & Leetham). Services started to Madeira in 1878 and between Lisbon - Azores - USA from 1885 to 1910. Some voyages to Cape Verde and West Africa after 1971. In Dec.1972 Empreza Insulana took over Cia de Nav. Carregadores Acorianos and their fleet and in 1974 both companies amalgamated with Cia. Colonial to form Companhia Portuguesa de Transportes Maritimos (CPTM)
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acor | 1877 | 1906 sold to Empreza Nacional renamed Guine. | 1,211 |
| Acores | 1958 | 1972 transferred from Cia de Nav. Carregadores Acoreanos, 1974 to CPTM, 1986 sold to Portline, Lisbon renamed Pedro Reinel. | 2,963 |
| Angra do Heroismo | 1955 | ex- Israel , 1966 purchased from Zim Lines renamed Angra do Heroismo, 1974 scrapped. | 10,187 |
| Arnel | 1955 | 1958 wrecked on Santa Maria Island, Azores; loss of 27 lives. | 1,050 |
| Atlantico | 1866 | 1872 purchased from Empreza Luzitana, 1877 lost. | 1,032 |
| Benguella | 1863 | 1883 purchased from Empreza Luzitana, 1890 abandoned and sank in mid-Atlantic. | 1,308 |
| Carvalho Araujo (1) | 1930 | 1973 scrapped. | 4,560 |
| Carvalho Araujo (2) | 1972 | 1974 to CPTM. | 11,327 |
| Cedros (1) | 1955 | 1973 renamed Marso, 1974 to CPTM. | 1,028 |
| Cedros (2) | 1966 | ex- Ibiza , 1972 purchased from DFDS, Copenhagen renamed Cedros, 1974 to CPTM. | 590 |
| Congo | 1961 | ex- Nurnberg , 1971 purchased from HAPAG renamed Congo, 1974 to CPTM. | 9,464 |
| Corvo (1) | 1919 | ex- Martha , 1930 purchased from Norway renamed Corvo, 1953 sold to Mutualista Acoreana, Lisbon. | 773 |
| Corvo (2) | 1954 | ex- Merignac , 1958 purchased from Worms et Cie, renamed Corvo, 1960 sold to Mutualista Acoreana, Lisbon. | 1,014 |
| Faial | 1950 | ex- Lurio , 1968 purchased from Cia Nacional renamed Faial, 1973 scrapped. | 2,639 |
| Funchal (1) | 1884 | 1927 scrapped. | 1,743 |
| Funchal (2) | 1961 | 1974 to CPTM. | 9,624 |
| Girao | 1931 | ex- Gorgulho , 1948 purchased renamed Girao, 1974 to CPTM. | 425 |
| Gorgulho (1) | 1949 | 1971 renamed Lurio, 1974 to CPTM. | 1,156 |
| Gorgulho (2) | 1966 | ex- Mallorca , 1972 purchased from DFDS, Copenhagen renamed Gorgulho, 1974 to CPTM. | 591 |
| Hermenegildo Capelo | 1965 | ex- Moerdyk , 1973 purchased from Holland America Line renamed Hermenegildo Capelo, 1974 to CPTM. | 10,946 |
| Horta | 1949 | 1972 transferred from Cia de Nav. Carregadores Acoreanos, 1974 to CPTM, 1981 scrapped. | 2,647 |
| Ilha do Porto Santo | 1953 | 1973 purchased, 1974 to CPTM. | 657 |
| Insulano | 1868 | 1872 purchased from Empreza Luzitana, 1875 lost. | 877 |
| Joao da Nova | 1973 | 1974 to CPTM. | 1,868 |
| Knight of St. John | 1884 | 1890 purchased, no further info. | 275 |
| Lagoa | 1950 | 1972 transferred from Cia de Nav. Carregadores Acoreanos, 1972 renamed Somar, 1973 scrapped. | 2,415 |
| Lagoa | 1962 | ex- Bure , 1972 purchased from Fred Olsen Line renamed Lagoa, 1974 transferred to CPTM. | 521 |
| Lima (1) | 1907 | ex- Westerwald (HAPAG), 1916 seized by Portugal renamed Lima, 1922 purchased by Empreza Insulana, 1952 scrapped. | 3,865 |
| Lima (2) | 1966 | ex- Korsika , 1972 purchased from DFDS, Copenhagen renamed Lima, 1974 to CPTM. | 590 |
| Lurio | see Gorgulho. | ||
| Luso | 1875 | no further info. | 999 |
| Madalena | 1950 | 1974 to CPTM. | 1,199 |
| Marso | see Cedros (1) | ||
| Mauricio de Oliveira | 1970 | ex- Contrans , 1972 purchased renamed Mauricio de Oliveira, 1974 to CPTM. | 2,848 |
| Monte Brasil | 1948 | 1972 transferred from Cia de Nav. Carregadores Acoreanos, 1974 to CPTM, 1982 scrapped. | 2,394 |
| Muxima | 1962 | ex- Wolfsburg , 1971 purchased from HAPAG renamed Muxima, 1974 to CPTM. | 9,462 |
| Neptuno | 18?? | recorded as 1875-1877 chartered from Bailey & Leetham but does not appear in their fleet list under that name. | 766 |
| Peninsular | 1887 | ex- Murrumbidgee , 1893 purchased from Lund's Blue Anchor Line renamed Peninsular , 1910 sold to Empreza Nacional. | 2,744 |
| Pereira d'Eca | 1972 | 1974 to CPTM. | 11,230 |
| Ponta Delgada | 1961 | 1974 to CPTM. | 1,054 |
| Ponta Garca | 1960 | 1972 transferred from Cia de Nav. Carregadores Acoreanos, 1974 to CPTM, 1986 sold. | 1,810 |
| Ponta se Sao Lourenco | 1965 | 1974 purchased, 1974 to CPTM. | 1,161 |
| Ribeira Grande | 1948 | 1972 transferred from Cia de Nav. Carregadores Acoreanos, 1974 to CPTM, 1986 scrapped. | 2,376 |
| Rocadas | 1971 | 1974 to CPTM. | 12,112 |
| Rodrigues Cabrilho | 1969 | ex- Eagle , 1972 purchased, 1974 to CPTM. | 2,847 |
| San Miguel | 1905 | 1931 sold to Cia. Colonial renamed Guine. | 2,557 |
| Serpa Pinto | 1970 | ex- Tropicalia , 1971 purchased renamed Serpa Pinto, 1974 to CPTM. | 12,112 |
| Sete Cidades | 1961 | 1972 transferred from Cia de Nav. Carregadores Acoreanos, 1974 to CPTM, 1986 sold to Vianalis, Lisbon. | 1,086 |
| Terceirense | 1949 | 1969 grounded and sank off Carapacho. | 1,295 |
| Vega | 1879 | 1890 purchased from Star Nav. Co, 1899 sold to Empreza Nacional renamed Benguella. | 2,893 |