Since the beginning of time, the people of the Azores have used the sea as a connecting element to overcome the emotional and commercial distances felt within the archipelago. Therefore, the history of maritime navigation in the Azores is long.
As a result of this dynamic, in 1871 the Empresa Insulana de Navegação (Island Navigation Company) was established, which, for more than a century, ensured regular inter-island traffic, as well as connections with Madeira and the United States. In the 1980s, inter-island passenger maritime transport was interrupted, with the exception of connections between some islands of the Central and Western Groups. About 20 years later, at the end of the 1990s, the focus on regional passenger maritime transport was resumed.
Regarding passenger maritime transport in the Azores, it is important to highlight the dynamics of the islands of the Central Group Triangle – Faial, Pico, and São Jorge – where, due to the proximity between the three islands, maritime connections gained particular importance from early on. Several companies dedicated themselves to this transport in that area.
1987
Of particular note is “Transmaçor – Transportes Marítimos Açorianos, Lda.”, founded on December 22, 1987, resulting from the merger of “Empresa das Lanchas do Pico, Lda.”, “Empresa Açoriana de Transportes Marítimos, Lda.” and “Transcanal- Transportes Marítimos do Canal, Ltda.”.
2005
In 2005, by decision of the Government of the Azores, Atlânticoline was established, a company with exclusively public capital that has the direct participation of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Portos dos Açores.
2007
Committed to service excellence, and with a permanent staff of only five employees, Atlânticoline was accepted as a shipping company in 2007 and as a ship management company the following year.
Atlânticoline ship
2015
In 2015, Transmaçor was incorporated into Atlânticoline, S.A., which then took over the provision of passenger and vehicle transport throughout the archipelago.
2018
Currently, with a permanent staff of 65 employees and a large group of 40 seasonal collaborators, Atlânticoline ensures the transportation of nearly 590,000 passengers and more than 30,000 vehicles annually.
Mission:
- To ensure a reliable and safe maritime transport service for people and vehicles, contributing to the economic and social development of the region by promoting exchange between the various islands of the Azores.
Values:
- Customer focus;
- Competence;
- Safety;
- Ambition;
- Responsibility (environment and local);
- Innovation;
- Ethics;
- Openness to change.
A visual illustration of our company’s hierarchical and functional structure. In this section, we present the different units, departments, and positions that make up our team, providing a clear understanding of the internal organization and reporting lines.
Isabel Alexandra de Melo Quadros Marques Fernandes Dutra
Chairwoman of the Board of Directors
Holds a degree in Economics, specializing in Business Economics, from the Lusíada University of Lisbon, and a postgraduate degree in Training Management and Coordination.
She was Coordinator of the Integrated Business Support Network (RIAE) of Faial Island and of the Youth, Employment, Commerce, Industry and Crafts Agency (AJEmCIA) of Faial Island.
She served as Secretary General of the Horta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also coordinating the Training Office and the Technical Office for investment project analysis of that institution. She is a certified public accountant and a member of the Order of Economists.
Ricardo Manoel Soares Batista
Executive Member of the Board of Directors
Holds a degree in Computer Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, and a postgraduate degree in Business Management (MBA) from Porto Business School.
He was an Advisor to the Board of Directors of Atlânticoline until April 2024, having previously held various positions at Portos dos Açores, such as: Director of Operations, General Director of the Ports of São Miguel and Santa Maria, Director of Port Operations for the ports of the islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria, Head of the Information and Communications Systems Department, and Coordinator of the Ponta Delgada Marina, Portas do Mar, and São Pedro Swimming Pool Complex.
At the Azores port administration, from February 2022 to July 2023, he was also responsible for the EALING project (European Flagship Action for Cold Ironning in Ports) on the electrification of maritime transport, both on ships and in ports through Onshore Power Supply solutions, and for the PORTOS project (Ports Towards Energy Self-Sufficiency) for the implementation of renewable energies in seaports to achieve energy self-sufficiency. He is a member of the Order of Engineers.
César Augusto Formiga da Cruz
Non-Executive Member of the Board of Directors
Graduated in Piloting from the Infante D. Henrique Nautical School, specializing in oil, chemical, and gas tankers.
Currently a Non-Executive Member of Atlanticoline since 2010, he is the Piloting Coordinator at Portos dos Açores S.A., having held various other positions in the Azores port administration, such as: Pilot, Head of the Piloting Department, Deputy Director of Operations, Director of Port Operations for the ports of the islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria.
In his professional experience, during his time in the Merchant Navy, he served aboard various container and tanker ships, both in the Azores Autonomous Region and in Northern Europe.