Tag

GNV

Apr 17
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GNV Deploys New LNG Ferries on Italy–Morocco Route

By 2026 Newsletter week 16
  • GNV, part of the MSC Group, will strengthen its Italy–Morocco network by deploying newbuild ferries GNV AURORA and GNV VIRGO from summer 2026.
  • The vessels will operate on the Genoa–Tangier Med route via Barcelona, with Barcelona serving as a transit hub.
  • GNV AURORA will enter service on 1 June, followed by GNV VIRGO on 1 July.
  • Both ships will operate weekly departures from Genoa, their homeport, with LNG bunkering scheduled every four days.

Passenger Demand and Marhaba Traffic

  • The expanded service is aimed at growing passenger demand, particularly Moroccan citizens living in Europe travelling home during the annual Operation Marhaba summer migration.
  • GNV said the new ships will improve capacity, comfort and schedule reliability on the route.

Freight Importance

  • Tangier Med remains a strategic logistics gateway for North Africa and a growing hub for trade between Europe and Africa.
  • The new vessels offer increased freight capacity and improved operational efficiency, supporting commercial flows between Italy and Morocco.

Vessel Specifications

  • Capacity for more than 1,700 passengers.
  • 426 cabins.
  • Up to 2,780 lane metres of freight space.

Environmental Performance

  • Both vessels are LNG-powered.
  • GNV says CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 50% per unit of cargo carried compared with previous-generation ships.
  • The ferries are also prepared for shore power (cold ironing), allowing zero direct emissions while in port.

Local Presence

  • Operations in Morocco will be led by Carole Montarsolo, appointed Managing Director of GNV Morocco in October.
  • Long-standing partner Mohammed Kabbaj will continue to support institutional and commercial relations.
Feb 02
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Menorca: Baleària, GNV and Trasmed Meet Island Council on Sustainable Connectivity

By 2026 Newsketter week 05

The top executives of Baleària, GNV and Trasmed met with the President of the Menorca Island Council to reinforce institutional cooperation and support coordinated public policies on sustainable island connectivity.

The three operators reiterated their willingness to contribute constructively to discussions on transport and tourism models, balancing connectivity needs with the protection of the island and the daily life of residents.

They also offered to provide operational data and sector expertise to help shape effective mobility solutions.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintain ongoing dialogue, underlining that all affected stakeholders must be involved in structural debates on the future of sustainable connectivity for Menorca.

Source: Baleària

Jan 23
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Steel Cutting For Fifth MSC–GNV RoPax Newbuilding At GSI

By 2026 Newsletter week 04

The steel cutting ceremony has taken place for the fifth LNG-fuelled RoPax newbuilding ordered by MSC for its ferry subsidiary GNV, at Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China.

The vessel, which has not yet been named, is the first unit of a second batch of four ships ordered in 2025 by the Aponte-controlled group. Delivery is scheduled for the first months of 2028.

The four dual-fuel LNG vessels will be sister ships to GNV VIRGO and GNV AURORA.

Main particulars:

  • Length: 218 metres
  • Beam: nearly 30 metres
  • Gross tonnage: 52,300
  • Maximum speed: 25 knots
  • More than 420 cabins
  • Capacity for up to 1,785 passengers
  • 2,780 lane metres of RoRo cargo

Each newbuilding is expected to cost more than €150m. The vessels will be financed by MSC and transferred to GNV under bareboat charter agreements.

GNV, led by Matteo Catani, has already taken delivery of three new ferries from GSI: GNV POLARIS, GNV ORION and GNV VIRGO, with GNV AURORA due to follow in the coming days.

Dec 19
Love3

Case of Potential Cyber-Attack Emerges on GNV Ferry FANTASTIC

By 2025 Newsletter week 51

A case of suspected cyber intrusion has emerged aboard the GNV-operated ferry FANTASTIC in the port of Sète, leading to arrests, an intelligence-led investigation, and concerns over possible state-backed interference.

Italian authorities alerted France after a remote-access malware was discovered on the vessel. The ship’s operating system is believed to have been infected with a Remote Access Trojan (RAT), a type of malware that allows hackers to gain unauthorised remote control of a system.

Two crew members — one Latvian and one Bulgarian — were detained last week after being flagged by Italian authorities. The Bulgarian national was released, while the Latvian was charged and remains in custody. The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into a suspected attempt “by an organised group to attack an automated data-processing system, with the aim of serving the interests of a foreign power”.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the incident as “a very serious matter” and confirmed that investigators are examining the possibility of foreign interference, according to reports. While not explicitly naming Russia, he stated: “These days, one country is very often behind foreign interference.”

Photo Jordiferrer Wikipedia

Oct 10
Love3

GNV Polaris to Return to China for Upgrade

By 2025 Newsletter week 41

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
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GNV’s RoPax LA SUPERBA To Be Scrapped in Turkey

By 2025 Newsletter week 29

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
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GNV Officially Launches France–Algeria RoPax Line

By 2025 Newsletter week 23

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
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SHIPS

By 2025 Newsletter week 19

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
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Ropax TENACIA Back in Service for GNV After Nine Months

By 2025 Newsletter week 17

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
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Newly Built RoPax Ship GNV ORION Delivered to MSC

By 2025 Newsletter week 16

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.