The company was established in 1895 by Mr. Paulino Freire, mainly at first with the aim to repair and build fishing vessels for their own company. Four generations later, the Freire family is still at the head of the shareholders and the direction of the company.

In 1928, the yard builds vessels for many different owners, amongst others Portuguese owners. Also at that time the yard manufactures its own patented steam engine and other ship elements.

In 1958, Freire gives another big technological step forward and starts building steel hulled-vessels. This first vessel would take three years to be accomplished and it imparted a learning experience which concluded in a complete transformation of the production processes.

During the 80´s, Freire undertakes one of its greatest challenges: the internationalization.
It is during this decade when contracts for higher sophisticated vessels for South Africa, Morocco, Argentine, Mexico, Angola, etc. are signed.

During the 90´s, Freire continues with its international growth and starts specializing in vessels of highly technological value: state-of-the art freezer trawlers for Greenland, Holland; reefer vessels, oceanographic vessels and rotor tugs, among others.

The 21st century has been and is a period of specialization in highly technological and tailor made vessels. Freire has strengthened its position as a benchmark yard for complex vessels such as oceanographic survey vessels, offshore support vessels, fishing vessels, tall ships, luxurious mega yachts and tugs.

Owners, scientific organizations and navies from countries such as Norway, Denmark, United Kingdom, Peru, Indonesia, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia among others, has found in Freire a reliable partner to whom they can entrust their most ambitious projects.