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🇹🇳 Tunisia /Economy & Trade

Morocco: GNV deploys two new LNG ferries on Europe routes

From La Presse · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • GNV, a subsidiary of MSC, is deploying two new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ferries on routes connecting Morocco to Spain and Italy.
  • The new ferries, GNV Aurora and GNV Virgo, will operate on the Tangier Med-Barcelona-Genoa route starting in June and July 2026, as part of a fleet modernization program.
  • This expansion highlights the growing importance of the Moroccan market for GNV, which has transported nearly six million passengers between Morocco and Europe over the past two decades.

Shipping company GNV, a subsidiary of MSC, is bolstering its fleet with two new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ferries set to operate on routes connecting Morocco with Spain and Italy. The GNV Aurora and GNV Virgo are scheduled to begin service on the Tangier Med-Barcelona-Genoa axis in June and July 2026, respectively.

GNV Aurora and GNV Virgo will ensure rotations on the Tangier Med-Barcelona-Genoa axis starting in June and July 2026.

— GNVDetails about the deployment of the new ferries.

This deployment is part of a significant fleet modernization initiative valued at 1.3 billion euros. The announcement coincided with the christening ceremony of the GNV Aurora at the port of Tangier Ville, attended by Moroccan, Italian officials, and MSC group executives. The GNV Aurora is the second LNG-powered vessel in GNV's fleet, with more ferries planned for integration by 2030.

Nearly six million passengers have been transported between Morocco and Europe since its establishment in the Kingdom nearly twenty years ago.

— GNVHighlighting the company's long-standing presence and activity in the Moroccan market.

The move underscores the increasing significance of the Moroccan market for the maritime carrier. GNV reported transporting nearly six million passengers between Morocco and Europe since its establishment in the Kingdom nearly twenty years ago. In 2025 alone, over 465,000 travelers used its Moroccan routes.

In 2025, over 465,000 travelers used its Moroccan lines.

— GNVProviding recent data on passenger numbers on Moroccan routes.

These new ferries will operate on a strategic corridor linking Tangier Med to Barcelona and Genoa. GNV plans for Barcelona to serve as a hub connecting Morocco to the wider Mediterranean network, while Genoa will function as the primary LNG refueling port for both vessels. The company emphasizes the environmental benefits of LNG as a transitional fuel and highlights the integration of energy-efficient technologies on the new ferries, which are designed to significantly reduce polluting emissions and meet stringent international maritime environmental standards. With a capacity for 1,700 passengers and 2,780 linear meters of freight, the GNV Aurora exemplifies the industry's response to growing demand for both passenger and cargo transport between Europe and North Africa.

Barcelona will play the role of a hub between Morocco and the rest of the Mediterranean network, while Genoa will serve as the main LNG refueling port for the two units.

— GNVExplaining the operational strategy and logistical roles of the ports.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Presse in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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