Grandi Navi Veloci Puts Order For New GSI Ships On Hold
MSC-controlled Grandi Navi Veloci will currently not proceed with the order for two ro-pax ferries, which were previously announced. They were going to be built at the GSI Shipyard in China.
At the annual general meeting of the Italian shipowners association (Assarmatori), Gianluigi Aponte, chairman of MSC Group, stated: “I can say that we are still considering the investment. However, the main issue with the shipyard is the price”.
The four ro-pax vessels (plus a further four units in options) jointly ordered in China by GNV and Onorato Armatori in 2017, have a capacity for 2,500 passengers and crew and offer 3,765 lane metres. The first and third ships should have been delivered to Grandi Navi Veloci, while Onorato (which instead recently confirmed the order) will take delivery of the other two. The first vessel for Onorato will come into service late 2021.