Libra as we know today was formed through the merger of several maritime transport companies in the 60s.

When the “Companhia Nacional de Navegação Costeira” was deactivated, on December 31, 1966, by the Federal Government, all coasting trade in Brazil became paralyzed, as most of the frights had been carried by “Costeira”.

There were private companies that carried out coasting trade, however without the regularity demanded by the development our country was going through at the beginning of the 60s.

The small amount of Brazilian flag ships operating the coasting trade was not sufficient. Considering this fact, 13 shipping companies with totally national capital, answering a request by the Ministry of Transportation, joined to found one sole and large maritime company to absorb the great freight market occurring in coasting trade.

Brazil produced almost everything it needed and industries were selling more and more their products and they had to send them to other states, mainly the coastal ones, therefore the ship became a very important means of transportation. After several meetings to stipulate parameters that would orient the new company and having the support of the Ministry of Transportation, the Merchant Marine Commission and the National Bank for Economic Development, Libra was created

The current Libra Shipping Company was founded on March 12, 1999, date when its shareholder control was acquired by the Chilean Company Compañia Sudmericana de Vapores – CSAV, forming the largest shipping company in Latin America.

More recently, in 2003, we became stronger through the merger with the Uruguayan company Montemar Marítima S. A., with its two routes to the North of Europe and to the East Coast of the United States.