Antwerp Euroterminal (AET) is expanding its RoRo capacity by 25%. With the construction of a six-storey car park, the multipurpose terminal is creating some 148,000 m² of additional capacity on just 24,000 m², in a sustainable way. The building will soon be officially inaugurated.
The new GNV ferry link launched this summer between the ports of Almeria (Spain) and Nador (Morocco) will be operational full year, not just seasonal.
A spokesperson from the Genoa-based company said to Ferry Shipping News that
ropax GNV CRISTAL will replace the AURELIA in the coming weeks.
GNV will deploy the ferry GNV CRISTAL, calling at the port of Sète (France), Almeria and Nador instead of Nador — Barcelona — Sète route.
“This connection accounts for the progressive increase in our offer to respond to market demand in terms of services and lines and demonstrates the company’s commitment to strengthening its presence in Spanish ports” said GNV’s CEO Matteo Catani announcing the new line launched from Almeria.
Repeating the same choice made last year, MSC-controlled Grandi Navi Veloci has just chartered-in for the summer season the roro ship FRIJSENBORG from compatriot Visemar Levante.
The 2016-built vessel is already deployed on the Genoa – Termini Imerese route adding capacity on the maritime link between Liguria and Sicily thus incrementing cargo capacity while leaving lane meters free for cars on the other ferries operated by the same company on the Genoa – Palermo regular service.
Grandi Navi Veloci has officially announced the purchase of the ropax ship CAP FINISTÈRE from Brittany Ferries which is currently en route to the port of Naples where will be renamed GNV SPIRIT.
The Nuova Meccanica Navale shipyard will take care of it with some refitting works and repainting the vessel with the company’s distinctive livery.
Once she enters service before next summer season, GNV SPIRIT will take GNV’s fleet to 25 ferries.
The sister ships FORZA and TENACIA —owned by Grimaldi Holding— will start a new 5-year bareboat charter with Grandi Navi Veloci, starting in February.
Broker sources suggest that the daily rate should be EUR 14,500 for the first three years, 14,750 for the fourth and 15,000 for the fifth. No options included for extending the period or for purchasing the ro-pax sister vessels.
Since September 2020 both the ferries have been operating for GNV in sub-charter from Trasmediterranea.
Both have a capacity of 2,000 lane meters and 1,000 passengers and are currently deployed on the routes linking Italy mainland to Sicily (Civitavecchia – Palermo) and Spain with the Balearic Islands (Barcelona – Palma).
GNV confirmed a 12-month charter of A-Ships Managements’ RoPax GOLDEN BRIDGE.
Recently, the large ship was dry docked at the Perama repair zone and changed her livery. She is expected to be introduced on Barcelona-Ibiza on 31 January 2022.
Two months after the opening of the new lines in the Balearics, GNV announces the new connection from Barcelona with Ciutadella de Menorca (via Palma de Mallorca) with GNV SEALAND (2,255 lane metres and 195 cars, 880 pax).
GNV BRIDGE (delivered June 2021, with 2,564 lane metres and 157 cabins) will operate the connections between Valencia, Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza.
GNV has scheduled departures every day between the ports of Barcelona and Valencia, and Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, in addition to the direct connection between Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza.
Purchasing individual routes is possible.
Grandi Navi Veloci and Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione (Moby’s subsidiary operating as Tirrenia) are the two ferry companies which applied for the maritime continuity during the low season between the ports of Genoa and Porto Torres, in Sardinia.
Invitalia, the public body which launched the tender for the Italian transport ministry, last June excluded this same two companies which now applied again for this tender which is worth EUR 25.8 million for the period 2021 – 2026.
The selected company will have to cover the route Genoa – Porto Torres from October to May with daily maritime services.
Ro-pax units to be deployed on this line must be aged up to 20 years, with 750 passengers and 1,000 lane meters capacity.
Grimaldi Group will be active on the same routes with no public subsidies.
Spanish sources revealed that GNV might add a port call in Menorca to its network of routes linking Barcelona and Valencia to the Balearic islands.
Ferry Baleares reported that in case the new rotation should be Barcelona – Palma – Ciutadella – Palma – Barcelona.
The Genoa-based ferry company officially denied that its services to Ibiza and Mallorca could change in the near future but also added that they “always look at interesting opportunities to open new markets”.
As from last July 6, Grandi Navi Veloci started a regular network of maritime services between Spain mainland and Balearic islands where are deployed the ro-pax ships GNV BRIDGE (linking Barcellona – Palma – Ibiza) and GNV SEALAND (Valencia – Palma – Ibiza).
- GNV and Grimaldi Holding signed a 3-year bareboat charter for FORZA and TENACIA.
- Option 1+1 years
- Both ferries have been operating 10 months for GNV, in sub-charter from Trasmediterranea.
- Ferry Shipping News understands that, practically, it will be an extension of the current charters, even if this new agreement involves directly Grimaldi Holding and MSC-controlled GNV.
- Daily rates for each bareboat charter should be around EUR 15,000 and there are no purchase options.
- TENACIA and FORZA both have capacity of 2,000 lane meters and 1,000 passengers and are currently deployed on the routes linking Italy mainland to Sicily and Sardinia.
