TRF

TRF, officially Transabayadi Regional Flete SA (lit. Transabayadi Regional Freightage), is a cargo with head offices in Lora, Castellano, Ventora. It is one of the oldest continually operating cargo shipping companies on the Abayadi Sea, dating from 1853. Today TRF operates a fleet of more than 50, , , specialized, and s.

History
Dídac Ladina Montedina and Adrià Vevas Sovia agreed to pool their resources in 1853 so they could build a steam-powered cargo ship. The pair each had successful freightage companies but sought to expand their business and felt the increased speed and reliability of a steamship would give them an edge in the region. Their first steamship, with a screw-driven steam engine for auxiliary power, was laid down in the fall of 1953. At the time, steamships were usually paddlewheel-driven, which was not entirely reliable on the open waters of the Abayadi Sea. The company launched its first steamer in May, 1855. Named the Mazarate, the vessel completed sea trials over the summer and made its first revenue journey to Haksarad in September, 1855. During its first full season in 1856, Mazarate proved to be dependable and the company began saving funds for its next steamer. Mali was laid down in 1857, marking the company's commitment to steamers.

By the 1870s, steam had proven reliable enough that masts for sails were omitted from new vessels the company ordered. Ladina and Vevas attributed their growing business to the reliability of their expanding fleet of steam-powered ships. They also realized a bulk cargo ship could haul grains and ores more efficiently than a general cargo ship. Their first bulk carrier, Valpavas, was laid down in 1876 and launched in 1888. The addition of bulk carriers helped meet shipping demand for the industrial age and facilitated exporting of surplus agriculture, another result from growing mechanization.

From the start, TRF focused on hauling cargo, although its vessels included some passenger staterooms up through ships ordered after 1960. While passenger service was never a big portion of the company's business, it remained financially viable until the growth of air travel left vessel passage undesirable. Because of TRF's scheduling for cargo haulage, it only operated a limited regular schedule with the resulting reduced attraction for passenger travel. In any case, the company had never intended to compete with passenger liners.

The First World War saw increasing demand for petroleum and chemicals. Shipping liquids in barrels was much less efficient than bulk haulage. In response, TRF ordered their first tankers. Rinza, an oil tanker, and Barcergos, a chemical tanker, were laid down in 1916 and 1917, respectively. They entered the fleet about two years after laydown. The advent of after the Second World War led to the development of container ships in the 1950s. Better suited to long distances, TRF was not an early adopter of container ships. Today the company's general cargo ships can also carry containers and the company does operate some container ships, but TRF has focused on its specialized cargo capabilities and serving the Abayadi region rather than trying to compete with large container shipping companies or taking on long-haul routes.

In recognition of its 150 year anniversary, the company opened a 11-story modern office tower as its head offices in 2003. The tower is built within the facade of its 1893 building near the port of Lora. The building was conceived in 1998 as a means to consolidate corporate functions occupying several leased offices into a single location while also "acknowledging the history of the company and its ties to the Lora harbor."

Current fleet
Today, TRF operates a fleet of 58 cargo ships, all flagged in Ventora.