GNV, the MSC Group ferry company, organized a special event in Tangier on May 27, to present its new vessel, GNV Orion, and announce significant future investments in Morocco, the company's second-largest market after Italy. The GNV Orion, which departed from the GSI shipyard in Canton, China, on April 30, made a symbolic stopover in Tangier before heading to Italy for final preparations ahead of its late June service launch. The timing coincides with the upcoming Operation Marhaba 2025 (June 5 - September 15). The event brought together institutional representatives, key partners, including Banque Populaire du Maroc, and local media. GNV CEO Matteo Catani attended alongside the company's Moroccan partner, Mohammed Kabbaj. Catani announced the company's fleet expansion plan, adding eight new vessels between 2025 and 2030. The first two LNG-powered ships, GNV Virgo and GNV Aurora, will enter service by year-end with over 50% CO2 reduction. Four additional vessels expected from 2028 will accommodate up to 2,500 passengers. Infrastructure limitations at Moroccan ports, including Tangier Med's 200-meter length restriction, currently prevent the deployment of these larger vessels. GNV transported approximately 455,000 passengers on Moroccan routes in 2024.
