Grandi Navi Veloci took delivery of the ro-pax vessel Gnv Aurora on 29 January 2026 at the Guangzhou Shipyard International yard in China. It is the second ship in the fleet powered by liquefied natural gas and the final unit in the first series of four new-generation vessels ordered by the company. The delivery therefore marks a significant milestone in the renewal plan launched by the group, which is controlled by MSC. The vessel will depart for the Mediterranean in the coming days and, after the completion of final fittings, will enter service in early April on the domestic market. Gnv Aurora will operate daily on the Genoa–Palermo route, strengthening capacity on the Tyrrhenian corridor for both passenger traffic and rolling cargo.
The vessel has a gross tonnage of around 53,000 tonnes, a length of 218 metres and a beam of 29.60 metres, with a maximum cruising speed of 25 knots. Its configuration allows it to accommodate more than 1,700 passengers in 426 cabins and to carry up to 2,780 linear metres of cargo. Like its sister ship Gnv Virgo, already in service, Gnv Aurora has been designed to deliver more advanced environmental performance than previous-generation units. According to the company, the use of LNG enables a reduction in CO₂ emissions of up to 50% per unit of transportable cargo, helping to limit the overall environmental impact of operations.
The vessel is equipped for cold ironing, allowing connection to the shore power grid while berthed. On board are emission abatement systems compliant with the most stringent standards of the Organizzazione Marittima Internazionale (International Maritime Organization), in line with IMO Tier III requirements. Energy efficiency solutions are also installed, including heat recovery for electricity generation, inverters to modulate the loads of pumps and fans, fully LED lighting and improved hull, propeller and rudder designs. The silicone-based coating applied to the hull and underwater body helps to improve hydrodynamics and reduce fuel consumption.
Gnv Aurora also marks the debut of a new company livery, featuring a green leaf that reflects the environmental path pursued in recent years. The stylised electrical connection incorporated into the design visually recalls the vessel’s readiness for cold ironing, a key element of the strategy to reduce emissions in port. The delivery of this unit completes the first phase of the fleet renewal plan, which has seen the introduction of four new-generation vessels, two of them LNG-fuelled. Gnv has already confirmed a second order for a further four units, all powered by liquefied natural gas, with deliveries scheduled to begin from the end of 2027 on a six-monthly basis.
