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Tag: GNV | Ferry Shipping News

Oct 10
3

GNV Polaris to Return to China for Upgrade

By | 2025 Newsletter week 41 | No Comments

The newly delivered GNV POLARIS will soon head back to the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China to increase passenger capacity ahead of next summer.

The first in a planned series of eight RoPax units, POLARIS will gain 132 additional cabins — bringing the total from 239 to 371 — aligning her design with GNV ORION and the upcoming GNV VIRGO, expected before year-end.

A spokesperson confirmed to Ferry Shipping News that the decision stems from a design variation planned for all new vessels. The company prioritised getting POLARIS into service quickly, with the refit scheduled to begin early next year. The ship will return to Italy in time for the 2026 summer season.

Jul 18
3

GNV’s RoPax LA SUPERBA To Be Scrapped in Turkey

By | 2025 Newsletter week 29 | No Comments

A public notice from the local Coast Guard in Sicily confirms that the RoPax vessel LA SUPERBA will soon leave Palermo to be dismantled in Turkey. The ship had been declared a constructive total loss following a fire on 14 January 2023 while docked in Palermo.

The insurer Siat has become the legal owner of the vessel after GNV, controlled by the MSC Group, wrote it off. GNV initially intended to return LA SUPERBA to service by summer 2023, but significant fire damage—affecting the forward section, two garage decks, cabins, and public areas—prevented any repair.

Built in 2002 by Nuovi Cantieri Apuania in Italy, LA SUPERBA was, at the time of her debut, the largest passenger ferry in the Mediterranean and one of the largest in the world. The vessel had capacity for 2,920 passengers, 1,000 cars, and 2,800 lane metres of cargo.

Jun 06
3

GNV Officially Launches France–Algeria RoPax Line

By | 2025 Newsletter week 23 | No Comments

GNV, part of the MSC Group, has officially launched new routes connecting Sète with Algiers and Bejaia.

The company will operate two weekly sailings: Algiers–Sète and Bejaia–Sète.

The RoPax EXCELLENT, recently refurbished, offers halal cuisine, a prayer room, and family-friendly spaces tailored to the Algerian market.

With these additions, GNV strengthens its presence in the Mediterranean and expands its services to the Maghreb, reinforcing its strategic role in international maritime transport.

May 09
3

SHIPS

By | 2025 Newsletter week 19 | No Comments

MSC and GNV Confirm Order for Four Additional LNG-Powered RoPax Ferries

GNV, part of the MSC Group, has officially announced a new order for four additional RoPax vessels to be built by Guangzhou Shipyard International.

Each vessel will:

  • Be powered by LNG
  • Accommodate up to 2,500 people and 3,500 lane metres of cargo
  • Measure 237m in length and 33m in width
  • Have a gross tonnage of 71,300 GT
  • Feature 527 cabins

The first delivery is expected in early 2028, with the remaining ships arriving at six-month intervals. Between 2025 and 2030, GNV’s fleet will be reinforced with a total of eight new-generation vessels.

“Every moment of the journey counts”

GNV has launched a new brand campaign, coinciding with the announcement of eight new vessels joining the fleet by 2030. The campaign reflects a renewed focus on service quality, comfort, and safety—across the entire customer journey.

Developed by Dentsu Creative, the campaign went live on 7 May, the day of the announcement.

Apr 25
3

Ropax TENACIA Back in Service for GNV After Nine Months

By | 2025 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

Almost ten months after a fire broke out while sailing to Ibiza, the RoPax ship TENACIA—owned by Isabella Grimaldi’s “Grimaldi Investments” but operated under a bareboat charter by GNV—is back in service.

MSC-controlled GNV confirmed that “TENACIA will return to operations this summer after a period of work necessary to completely restore the technical parts damaged last July.”

The repair work was carried out at the Nuova Meccanica Navale shipyard in Naples, a company in which MSC also holds a stake.

The incident occurred on 8 July in the high seas, north of Ibiza, following a fire outbreak in the engine room. At the time, the ship was carrying goods and approximately 400 passengers and crew between Valencia and Palma de Mallorca.

Apr 18
3

Newly Built RoPax Ship GNV ORION Delivered to MSC

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

GNV, the Genoa-based ferry company owned by the MSC Group, has taken delivery of GNV ORION at Guangzhou Shipyard International in China. This is the second vessel in a series of four new RoPax units.

The ship, owned by MSC and bareboat chartered to GNV, will soon depart for the Mediterranean to complete final fittings before entering service by the end of June on the regular Genoa–Palermo route.

With a gross tonnage of approximately 52,000 tons, a length of 218 metres, a beam of 29.60 metres, and a maximum speed of 25 knots, GNV ORION can accommodate 1,700 passengers in 433 cabins and transport up to 3,080 lane metres of cargo.

The vessel is equipped for cold ironing. It also features advanced emission reduction systems, including exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR), complying with IMO Tier III requirements.

Apr 06
3

PORTS

By | 2025 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

GNV Officially Announced Its Debut Into The Algerian Market

GNV, part of the MSC Group, has announced its strategic entry into the Algerian market — what was expected and has now been confirmed. This move further strengthens the company’s presence in the Maghreb region and expands its international service offering in the Mediterranean.

The Company will add two weekly connections to Algeria to its 2025 schedule, starting from June 3 and until September 30 : Sète – Algiers and Sète – Bejaia , with a weekly frequency.

The ship will be the FANTASTIC. She will operate on all routes, offering onboard services tailored to the needs of the North African market. Passengers will be able to enjoy halal cuisine, a prayer room and areas dedicated to families.

Here is a list of ferry operators serving routes between Europe and Algeria:

  • Corsica Linea: Marseille to Algiers and Béjaïa. ​
  • Algérie Ferries: Marseille to Algerian ports such as Algiers, Oran, Béjaïa, and Skikda. ​
  • Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea: Almería to Oran and Ghazaouet. ​
  • Baleària: Valencia to Mostaganem and Oran, and from Barcelona to Algiers. ​
  • Nouris Elbahr Ferries: Marseille or Alicante to Algiers and Béjaïa. ​
  • L’Aures Ferries: Plans to operate routes connecting Sète (France) to Algerian ports.
  • GNV to start Sète to Algiers and Bejaia.
Mar 30
3

SHIPS

By | 2025 Newsletter week 13 | No Comments

Four New RoPax Ships Ordered by MSC from GSI for GNV

Sources familiar with the matter told Ferry Shipping News that Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has ordered two new RoPax ferries—plus options for two more—from Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China for its subsidiary GNV.

These four new dual-fuel LNG vessels, set for delivery from 2027 onwards, will be sister ships to GNV VIRGO and GNV AURORA. Each will be 218 metres long and nearly 30 metres wide, with a gross tonnage of 52,300. They will have a maximum speed of 25 knots, over 420 cabins, the capacity to accommodate up to 1,785 passengers, and 2,780 lane metres of RoRo cargo.

Each newbuild is expected to cost more than EUR 150 million. The vessels will be financed by MSC and subsequently transferred to GNV under bareboat charter agreements.

The Aponte-controlled ferry company has already taken delivery of GNV POLARIS from GSI, with GNV ORION, GNV VIRGO, and GNV AURORA due to follow in the coming months

Mar 21
3

DIGITAL

By | 2025 Newsletter week 12 | No Comments

GNV Tests RINA’s Smart System to Cut Fuel Use on New Ship

GNV is using RINA’s SERTICA Performance on its newest ship, GNV POLARIS, starting with tests during the vessel’s first journey from China to Italy. This smart system helps monitor fuel use, improve efficiency, and optimise operations.

How It Works:

Real-time Monitoring

  • Sensors on board track key data like fuel consumption and engine power.
  • The system gives a clear picture of energy use for the crew and onshore teams.

Better Fuel Efficiency

  • Tests identified two best ways to run the ship for minimum fuel use.
  • Simulations at different speeds helped find the most efficient setup.
  • The system was tested on the Genoa-Palermo route, confirming accurate fuel-saving predictions.

Smart Learning for the Future

  • A machine learning model of the ship predicts performance over time.
  • It helps plan maintenance, like cleaning the hull or adjusting engines, to keep fuel use low.
  • The system can also simulate different routes to find the best settings for new journeys.
Jan 10
2

GNV Rumoured to Launch New RoPax Line Between France and Algeria

By | 2025 Newsletter week 02 | No Comments

MSC-controlled ferry operator GNV has not commented on market rumours, but multiple sources suggest the company is preparing to inaugurate a new RoPax line connecting the port of Sète in southern France with Algeria.

The French publication Le Marin reported this week that GNV recently secured the necessary authorisations in France. However, this development has sparked concerns among labour unions about increased competition, which could impact existing operators such as Algérie Ferries and Corsica Linea.