Morocco now occupies a central place in GNV’s Mediterranean ambitions. On the occasion of the christening of the GNV Aurora in Tangier, the MSC Group’s company announced the deployment of its two newest ships, the GNV Aurora and the GNV Virgo, on the routes linking Tangier to Barcelona and Genoa.
The two vessels are powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fuel viewed as a transitional solution toward more sustainable alternatives such as bio-LNG or synthetic LNG.
Present in Morocco for nearly twenty years, GNV has carried around six million passengers there. In 2025, more than 465,000 travelers used its Moroccan routes, making the Kingdom one of its most important markets.
The deployment comes as Marhaba operation approaches, the broad summer movement of Moroccans living in Europe back to their homeland, which each year mobilizes several million travelers.
The two vessels are powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fuel viewed as a transitional solution toward more sustainable alternatives such as bio-LNG or synthetic LNG.
Present in Morocco for nearly twenty years, GNV has carried around six million passengers there. In 2025, more than 465,000 travelers used its Moroccan routes, making the Kingdom one of its most important markets.
The deployment comes as Marhaba operation approaches, the broad summer movement of Moroccans living in Europe back to their homeland, which each year mobilizes several million travelers.
A €1.3 billion investment
The GNV Aurora fits into a broad fleet renewal program valued at €1.3 billion. Eight new ferries are due to be delivered by 2030, four of them starting in 2027. For the group, this investment aims to improve both the ships’ environmental performance and the passenger experience.
“Our long-standing presence in Morocco has developed steadily over the years,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the MSC Cruises division and chairman of GNV. According to him, the Kingdom is a strategic link to strengthen the company’s Mediterranean network.
Measuring 218 meters in length with a gross tonnage of 53,000, the GNV Aurora can accommodate more than 1,700 passengers in 426 cabins and carry 2,780 linear meters of freight.
The vessel is equipped with technologies aimed at reducing its environmental footprint, including onshore power supply, heat recovery systems, and energy optimization solutions.
“Our long-standing presence in Morocco has developed steadily over the years,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the MSC Cruises division and chairman of GNV. According to him, the Kingdom is a strategic link to strengthen the company’s Mediterranean network.
Measuring 218 meters in length with a gross tonnage of 53,000, the GNV Aurora can accommodate more than 1,700 passengers in 426 cabins and carry 2,780 linear meters of freight.
The vessel is equipped with technologies aimed at reducing its environmental footprint, including onshore power supply, heat recovery systems, and energy optimization solutions.
Up to 50% fewer CO₂ emissions
According to GNV, these features enable a reduction in CO₂ emissions of up to 50% per unit carried compared with the previous generation of ferries, while also reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and fine particulates. The vessel complies with IMO Tier III environmental standards.
Beyond passenger transport, GNV also aims to strengthen trade exchanges between Europe and Morocco via the Tanger Med port, which has become one of Africa’s major logistics hubs.
The company also believes that the outlook linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, should further boost mobility and tourism flows between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
Beyond passenger transport, GNV also aims to strengthen trade exchanges between Europe and Morocco via the Tanger Med port, which has become one of Africa’s major logistics hubs.
The company also believes that the outlook linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, should further boost mobility and tourism flows between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
Published by Amelia Brille 
