09 May 2025by Rebecca Moore
GNV, part of the MSC Group, has inked an order with Guangzhou Shipbuilding International in Guangzhou, China, for four LNG-powered ropax ferries
This order, combined with the previous one, means the company is expanding its fleet with eight new units between 2025 and 2030.
A statement on LinkedIn said work will begin in 2026, with the first ship delivered within the first months of 2028 and the following vessels every six months. The new ferries, each with a capacity of 2,500 people, over 500 cabins, and 3,500 line metres of garage space, “will be the largest and most spacious in the Mediterranean by tonnage at 71,300 tonnes”, said the statement on LinkedIn.
GNV noted that it – along with parent company MSC Group – has a long-term relationship with the shipyard and “has been working for some time on this ambitious project aimed at redefining the standards of the Group’s fleet.”
The ropaxes will all be powered by LNG, reducing CO2 emissions by more than 50% per unit compared with the previous generation.
The company said, “This significant operation provides a strong push towards the transition to more sustainable and environmentally friendly models. It is a commitment GNV has already undertaken with conviction, considering it not only a responsible choice but also a strategic lever for competitiveness in the territories it serves.”
It summed up, “The four newly ordered ships will represent an evolution compared with those from the previous order, which includes GNV Polaris and GNV Orion.”
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