GENOA, ITALY | October 23, 2025 – Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), the ferry company of the MSC Group, has formally taken delivery of the GNV Virgo, the company’s first LNG-powered ship. The Delivery Ceremony took place yesterday at the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in Canton, China, marking a significant step in GNV’s fleet renewal and commitment to decarbonization.
The traditional maritime ceremony was attended by representatives of the GSI shipyard and the MSC Group, along with a GNV delegation led by Franco Fabrizio, General Counsel – Head of Legal Claims & Insurance Department, and the ship’s godmother, Chiara Giovine, Domestic & Balearic Islands Trade Manager.
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Sea Trials Concluded 11 Months Ahead of Schedule
The successful delivery of the Virgo was preceded by the conclusion of its crucial sea trials in August, 2025.
- Early Delivery: The smooth process confirmed the ship’s operational readiness, allowing the company to announce that the vessel was delivered an impressive 11 months ahead of the initially estimated timeframe.
- Infrastructure Collaboration: GNV stated that its collaboration with institutions and stakeholders continues, focusing on adapting Italian port infrastructures to better manage the growing demand for LNG for national maritime transport.
GNV Virgo: A New Standard for Environmental Technology
The GNV Virgo is the third Ro-Pax unit delivered in the renewal plan, joining the already operational GNV Polaris and GNV Orion. It is GNV’s first ferry, and the first Italian long-distance ferry, to be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
- Emissions Reduction: The ship is equipped with cutting-edge environmental technologies, capable of guaranteeing a reduction in CO₂ emissions of 50% per transportable unit compared to previous generation ships.
- Regulatory Compliance: It features Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems and heat recycling technologies to ensure compliance with stringent global regulations, meeting both IMO Tier III and EEDI Phase II requirements.
- Cold Ironing Ready: Like all new units, it is equipped for cold ironing (shore power connection), which significantly reduces local emissions while docked.
GNV’s Ambitious Fleet Renewal Vision: 8 New LNG Ships by 2030
The delivery of the GNV Virgo is a key milestone in a much larger, highly ambitious expansion plan designed to strengthen GNV’s leadership in the Mediterranean.
- Total Investment: The plan encompasses a total of eight new Ro-Pax units to be introduced between 2025 and 2030.
- Order Scale: In addition to the four units from the previous order (including Virgo), GNV announced on May 7, 2025, an order for four more new LNG-powered ships from the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI).
- Largest in the Mediterranean: These later ships (starting delivery in 2028) will be the largest on the Mediterranean, boasting a gross tonnage of approximately 71,300 tons and a length of 237 meters. They will accommodate up to 2,500 people and offer 3,500 linear meters of garage space.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of GNV, stated that this important investment “demonstrates, once again, that for GNV, environmental sustainability and safety are key elements and indispensable factors of doing business.“
Upcoming Ceremony and Deployment
The new ship will soon leave China for Italy. Before its entry into service on the Genoa–Palermo route, the official Naming Ceremony is scheduled for December 11, 2025, in the port of Palermo.
| Category | GNV Virgo Specification |
| Gross Tonnage | ~52,300 tons |
| Length | 218 meters |
| Max Speed | 25 knots |
| Passenger Capacity | 1,785 |
| Cargo Capacity | 2,770 linear meters |
About GNV: Grandi Navi Veloci
Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) is a leading European ferry company and a prominent member of the MSC Group. GNV operates an extensive network of maritime connections, serving as a critical transportation link for passengers, vehicles, and freight across the Mediterranean.
Network and Destinations
GNV operates on a robust network of 33 maritime routes connecting key destinations across Southern Europe and North Africa.
The company’s routes link Italy (including the islands of Sardinia and Sicily), Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Spain, France, Albania, and Malta.
- Key Italian Ports: Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo, Termini Imerese, Olbia, and Porto Torres.
- International Ports: Barcelona, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Mahón, Almería, Tunis, Tangier, Algiers, Bejaia, Nador, Sète, Bari, Durrës, and Malta.
Focus on “Motorways of the Sea”
GNV is a primary developer and operator of the “Motorways of the Sea” concept. This initiative positions sea transport as a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional road transport, particularly for heavy lorry traffic.
This innovative approach serves a dual purpose:
- Economic Efficiency: It helps reduce overall transportation costs for freight and logistics companies.
- Environmental Solution: It provides an efficient solution to the environmental challenges associated with heavy lorry traffic on national road networks by shifting freight volume from roads to less polluting sea lanes.
Commitment to the Future
As evidenced by the company’s recent investment in the GNV Virgo (the first LNG-powered ferry) and an overall plan to introduce eight new LNG vessels by 2030, GNV is deeply committed to environmental sustainability, safety, and technological innovation to strengthen its leadership role in the Mediterranean ferry sector.
Source: GNV – Grandi Navi Veloci