A legacy spanning four generations
Since its foundation, Construcciones Navales P. Freire has remained under the leadership of the Freire family, evolving and adapting over the decades to become the world-renowned industry leader it is today. Discover our history.
The company was founded en 1895 as Construcciones Navales Paulino Freire by Paulino Freire Piñeiro, initially to repair and build the fishing vessels of his own fleet.
Four generations later, the Freire family continues to lead de company, guiding its growth and innovation to this day.
In 1928 the shipyard builts vessels for various shipowners. At this time, our proprietary steam engines and all ship outfitting were manufactured in-house at our shipyard.
In 1958, Freire made a major technological leap by beginning the construction of steel-hulled vessels. The first ship took three years to complete and proved to be a valuable learning experience, fundamentally transforming our production processes.
In the 1980s, Freire embraced one of its most ambitious goals: entering the international market. During this decade, the company secured contracts for increasingly sophisticated vessels for clients in countries such as South Africa, Morocco, Argentina, Mexico, and Angola.
During the 1990s, Freire further expanded its international presence while concentrating on high-value, specialized vessels, including next-generation freezer trawlers for Greenland and the Netherlands, freezer ships, oceanographic vessels, patrol boats, rotor-type tugs, and more
In 2006, the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) commissioned Freire to build the Sarmiento de Gamboa, providing Spain with a modern, state-of-the-art vessel for global scientific research. She became the first Spanish oceanographic vessel equipped to operate deep-water ROVs and AUVs, and she remains fully operational today
Private shipowners and scientific organizations from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the navies of Spain, Namibia, Indonesia, Peru, Kuwait, Belgium, etc., trust Freire as a reliable partner to whom they entrust their most ambitious projects.
With the delivery of the Renaissance, Spain’s largest megayacht ever built, Freire once again demonstrated its ability to adapt and meet the highest standards of quality and luxury.
Today, Freire’s portfolio highlights significant achievements in shipbuilding. Thanks to the dedication and expertise of our team, we consistently succeed in competitive public tenders while maintaining the highest standards of quality, reinforcing our position as a global reference in the industry.
Renowned clients—including Greenpeace International, KAUST (Saudi Arabia), DTU (Denmark), the UK National Oceanography Centre, and the navies of Spain, Peru, and Indonesia—trust Freire Shipyard to expand their fleets, a testament to our know-how, experience, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
With a renewed image, Freire continues to uphold the values and standards that have guided the company through four generations
