On 7 May 2025, Grandi Navi Veloci unveiled a new order for the construction of four next-generation ro-pax vessels. Powered by liquefied natural gas, the ships will join four others already under construction, bringing to eight the total number of new vessels set to enter service between 2025 and 2030. The investment confirms the company’s – part of the Msc Group – determination to strengthen its position in maritime vehicle transport.
The new ships will be built at the Guangzhou Shipyard International yards in Canton, China, long-standing suppliers to Gnv. Construction is due to start in 2026, with the first delivery scheduled for early 2028 and subsequent vessels arriving at six-month intervals. Each vessel will have a gross tonnage of around 71,300 tonnes, a length of 237 metres and a beam of 33 metres. They will be capable of carrying up to 2,500 people and will offer 527 cabins and over 3,500 linear metres of garage space. These figures will make them the largest vessels in the Mediterranean in terms of capacity and size.
Like the future Gnv Virgo and Gnv Aurora – also due to arrive by the end of 2025 – the new vessels will run on LNG and be equipped with advanced environmental technologies capable of reducing CO2 emissions by over 50 per cent per unit transported compared to the previous generation, according to the company. “Environmental sustainability and safety are essential and non-negotiable elements of doing business,” stated Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the company, highlighting that the goal is to support growth through to 2030.
The fleet renewal strategy, brought forward by eleven months from the original plan, has seen significant acceleration over the past six months. In January 2025, Gnv Polaris entered service on the Genoa-Palermo route, carrying 1,500 passengers, with 239 cabins and 3,100 linear metres of freight capacity. In April, Gnv Orion was delivered, capable of transporting 1,700 passengers and 3,080 linear metres of cargo, with a 30 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions. Completing the picture, Gnv Virgo and Aurora – the first LNG-powered units – will also join the fleet by the end of 2025.
At the same time, Gnv has launched a wide-ranging retrofit programme for its historic vessels such as Excelsior, Fantastic, Rhapsody and Splendid. Upgrades in safety, energy efficiency and enhanced connectivity – thanks to satellite technologies such as Starlink – are accompanied by new onboard services including spas and relaxation areas, as part of a €25 million investment plan. The modernisation effort also includes digital tools like the Gnv Booking system, which simplifies reservation management for agencies and operators.
The value of this development plan goes beyond the strictly corporate sphere. “Shipping is an essential infrastructure to ensure reliable connections between territories and to stimulate the socioeconomic development of communities,” said Vago. Matteo Catani, the company’s CEO, reiterated Gnv’s intention to consolidate its role as a strategic infrastructure for Italy and the Mediterranean, placing the customer at the centre and increasingly focusing its offering on innovation.
