The shipping company Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), a subsidiary of the multinational Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has announced the addition of new routes operated by ships powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the Mediterranean. This decision will increase competition in a market where companies such as Baleària, Trasmed, and Grimaldi already operate with more modern, higher-capacity, and more environmentally sustainable units.
Among the vessels that the company is modernizing are the ‘GNV Virgo’ and the ‘GNV Altair’, which will use this alternative fuel to reduce CO2 emissions. With these units, the company expects to improve connections between Spain, Italy, and Morocco throughout the current year.
Matteo Catani, CEO of GNV, has confirmed these plans from the Madrid Tourism Fair, Fitur, where he indicated that the company "is working closely with the relevant authorities to operate the new ships on the routes connecting with Morocco starting next summer."
GNV, which currently makes calls at Mediterranean ports such as Valencia, Barcelona, and Baleares, believes this is a significant step to consolidate connections between Spain and the North African country. The shipping company could also extend its passenger operations to the port of Tanger-Med, a leading infrastructure in the Mediterranean for container traffic, starting next summer.
The direct connection lines of GNV between Tangier and Barcelona, as well as the Barcelona-Genoa route, allow passengers to board at the Moroccan city’s port and disembark in Italy, and vice versa. This configuration creates an efficient and integrated network between North Africa and the western Mediterranean.
In the Balearic Islands, the shipping company connects Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, in addition to maintaining international routes to Morocco and Tunisia from other Spanish ports such as Almería. From Valencia, GNV operates trips to Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca, routes where there has been an increase in passenger traffic.
Reduction of emissions and greater capacity
According to the company, the new ships that will use liquefied natural gas as fuel will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 50% compared to the previous generation. Furthermore, these units integrate other technologies aimed at further reducing the environmental impact of maritime operations.
On the other hand, the new ferries have larger dimensions, translating into greater capacity for both passengers and linear meters of cargo. This feature allows for an increase in available spaces without the need to open new routes, thus improving the offer on currently operating lines.
To develop its expansion plan, GNV has commissioned additional ships whose delivery is expected between the years 2028 and 2030.