The Gnv Virgo, the first LNG-powered ship for the Msc group company, will be delivered in the coming days in China at the Guangzhou Shipyard International shipyard. This was announced in a note by the shipping company, which has just been involved in Valencia with its Gnv Awards: “The ship will then set sail for Italy, where, before entering service on the Genoa-Palermo route, a christening ceremony is scheduled for December 11 in the port of Palermo.
Gnv also presented the results of the recently concluded summer season: “In the June-September 2025 period, the company handled 1.7 million passengers, marking a 9% increase compared to the same period the previous year. In Italy, Sardinia confirms its status as the jewel in the crown with 6% growth in the summer period, thanks to major refitting and digitalization interventions on the ships operating on the routes to the island, which led to a significant improvement in common areas and services, guaranteeing an increase in the guest satisfaction index.”
The results for Sicily were also considered excellent, “which marks a 10% increase, driven mainly by the Naples-Palermo route, the new ships, and targeted investments that have allowed the market to grow further and improve the on-board experience. On the international front, Morocco stands out with 6% growth, supported by five dedicated ships and a significant increase in Moroccan staff on board the ships (+100 personnel in the last year); in Tunisia, there is an +8% increase thanks to a new direct line that improved service times and quality; finally, the start of connections in Algeria is good, confirming the potential of this new market. The Balearic Islands and Albania are stable, recording a result in line with the previous year during the summer period.”
“This summer’s results confirm that we are moving in the right direction: +9% is not just a number, but the result of concrete choices. We have invested in targeted refitting and digitalization to make the journey increasingly comfortable, convinced that every moment of the journey counts. We demonstrated this in Sardinia: it is possible to grow even without new ships, by focusing on service quality and redesigned spaces; in Sicily, on the other hand, the arrival of new units and a stronger network gave a decisive boost to demand,” said Matteo Della Valle, Chief Commercial Officer of Gnv. “Abroad, we are consolidating our positions, in Tunisia with more direct connections and in Morocco with more local staff on board that enriches the passenger experience, while we open new fronts like Algeria. The imminent arrival of the Gnv Virgo, our first LNG ship, marks a concrete step towards lower emissions and greater efficiency: sustainability and competitiveness must go hand in hand.”
