The construction of GNV's new LNG-powered ferries is progressing, with two significant events taking place at the Chinese shipyard Guangzhou Shipyard International in November 2024: the technical launch of the ro-pax GNV Virgo and the keel-laying ceremony for its sister vessel GNV Aurora, the last of four units planned as part of the company's fleet renewal programme, which belongs to the MSC Group. The two new vessels will join the fleet by 2026. The names of the four ro-pax ferries are inspired by the sky and constellations: in addition to Virgo and Aurora, there are Polaris and Orion.
GNV Aurora and GNV Virgo will be the company's first dual-fuel LNG vessels. Both will be equipped with the necessary fittings for cold ironing, allowing them to connect to shore power while docked, reducing emissions during port stays. The two sister ro-pax vessels will have a gross tonnage of approximately 52,300 tonnes, a length of 218 metres, and a beam of 29.60 metres, with a maximum speed of 25 knots. With more than 420 cabins available, they will be able to accommodate up to 1,785 passengers and handle a cargo load of 2,780 linear metres.
Matteo Catani, CEO of GNV, stated: “With the keel-laying of GNV Aurora, we also mark the start of construction of the fourth of the new units that will join our fleet over the next two years. Like GNV Virgo, it will also be powered by LNG, the cleanest fossil fuel currently available on a large scale, allowing us to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% compared to the units currently in our fleet. The arrival of these two ships will be a crucial step in our company's journey towards emission reduction and sustainable transition.”
