Port of Sines Authority (APS) was created on December 14, 1977 by Decree Law N. 508/77. The company was endowed the management and exploitation of the Port of Sines, whose construction had begun in 1973.
APS was settled as a public institute with legal personality, being financially and administratively independent. By that time, the company was responsible for the management and exploitation of the single terminal in operation – the Oil Terminal (nowadays Liquid Bulk Terminal).
Among its responsibilities, the company aims at managing, develop and maintain the Port of Sines; perform studies and plans within the scope of maritime and land developments and port equipment to be submitted to the Government’s approval; to build, purchase, preserve and surveil maritime and land developments, as well as the port’s land and floating equipment. The company was also endowed the coordination, surveillance and regulating of the activities performed inside its jurisdiction area, without prejudice to the legal attributions bestowed to other companies.
In 1998, along with the remaining four port authorities in the country (Lisboa, Setúbal, Leixões and Aveiro), the Port of Sines Authority was transformed into a private company, 100% state owned, structured for the awarding of concessions to private operators, according to Decree Law N. 337/98. APS,SA was thus created.
On March 2014, Decree Law N. 44/2014 defines the transference of the management of the commercial ports of Faro and Portimão to APS,SA. APS – Ports of Sines and the Algarve Authority, SA was created, endowed the direct port jurisdiction of the maritime, fluvial-maritime and land zones concerning the port exploitation of the commercial ports of Faro and Portimão, previously under the responsibility of IPTM, I.P. (Port and Maritime Transports Institute). This new condition establishes not only the transference of the jurisdictional area responsibility, but also the patrimony, personnel and financial resources.