GNV
At GNV, every moment of the journey matters.
.png?la=it-it&h=auto&hash=68C571FBEA547E5C0DA4D998AEE5CE38)
Our history
For over 30 years, GNV has been connecting people, regions and markets across the Mediterranean, supporting the development of maritime transport infrastructure through continuous investment in its fleet, innovation and service quality.
Founded in 1992 and part of the MSC Group, GNV is today one of the leading shipping companies in the Mediterranean and one of the world's largest operators in the maritime transport of passengers and freight.
The Company is one of the world's leading operators in the maritime transport of passengers and freight. In particular, it is the world's leading ferry company by number of available berths, the second largest in the Mediterranean by transport capacity measured in lane metres and the second largest in the Mediterranean by fleet tonnage (Source: Shippax Market 2025, April 2026).
With connections between Italy, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Spain, France, Albania and Malta, GNV is a key player in the Motorways of the Sea, the European project promoting the shift of freight traffic from road to sea. The Company is also implementing the most significant fleet renewal programme in its history: eight new state-of-the-art vessels, backed by the MSC Group through an investment of more than €1.2 billion, confirming its commitment to innovation, sustainability and service quality.
Timeline
1992 GNV is founded.
1993 The M/V Majestic, the first vessel in the fleet, is launched and inaugurates the historic Genoa–Palermo route, introducing a new concept of ferry travel focused on comfort and service quality.
1999 GNV – at the time the only company in the Italian shipping industry to do so – is listed on the stock exchange to support its growth and development plan.
2003 GNV enters the Tunisian market with the launch of the Genoa–Tunis route, which would become one of the Company's strategic connections in the Mediterranean.
2004 A new phase in the Company's development begins with the arrival of new investors.
2007 GNV is named Best Shipping Company by travel agents, who award it the Bit Tourism Award 2007.
2008 The Company launches the Genoa–Barcelona–Tangier route, marking the start of its connections with Morocco.
2011 The MSC Group acquires a stake in GNV through Marinvest, marking the beginning of a new phase of growth and development for the Company. In the same year, the fleet expands with the addition of SNAV Toscana, SNAV Lazio and SNAV Sardegna.
2012 GNV launches two new maritime connections between the French port of Sète and the Moroccan ports of Tangier and Nador.
2013 SailOr is launched, a project dedicated to career guidance and professions in the maritime sector, promoted by GNV together with the Liguria Region and the main stakeholders of the Ligurian maritime cluster.
2014 GNV launches a major rebranding project, renewing the Company's visual identity and earning two awards at the Brand Identity GrandPrix.
2015 The fleet's new livery is unveiled. In the same year, Rhapsody enters service and the Bari–Durrës route is inaugurated, GNV's first connection in the Adriatic.
2016 The MSC Group acquires virtually the entire share capital of GNV. Pierfrancesco Vago becomes Chairman of the Company and, in September, Matteo Catani is appointed Chief Executive Officer, marking the beginning of a new phase of development for GNV.
2017 GNV strengthens its presence in Morocco by launching the new Barcelona–Nador route and joins the Plastic Free campaign promoted by Marevivo.
2018 GNV is the main sponsor of Palermo Italian Capital of Culture 2018 and wins the "Best Ferry Company" award at the Italia Travel Awards for the third consecutive year.
2019 GNV resumes operations on the historic seasonal Genoa–Olbia route.
2020 During the pandemic emergency, the Splendid is made available to the Liguria Region to support the management of the Covid-19 emergency. In the same year, GNV becomes the first shipping company to obtain RINA Biosafety Trust Certification.
2021 GNV Sealand and GNV Bridge join the fleet. The Company launches connections with the Balearic Islands and announces the construction of four new state-of-the-art ro-pax vessels, marking the start of the most significant fleet renewal programme in its recent history.
2022 GNV Spirit joins the fleet and the new Valencia offices are inaugurated.
2023 The Company celebrates 30 years of operations.
2024 GNV Polaris joins the fleet, the first of four new state-of-the-art vessels featuring high environmental and comfort standards. The vessel is deployed on the Genoa–Palermo route.
2025 GNV launches connections between Sète, Algiers and Béjaïa, marking its entry into the Algerian market.
The Company unveils its new brand positioning and the tagline "Every moment of the journey matters", placing the customer experience at the heart of the Company's ongoing evolution.
In July, GNV Orion, the second vessel in the fleet renewal programme, is officially named.
In the same year, four additional new LNG-powered vessels are announced, bringing the total number of new vessels planned by 2030 to eight as part of an MSC Group investment programme worth more than €1.2 billion, the largest in the Company's history.
At the end of the year, GNV Virgo joins the fleet, becoming the Company's first vessel powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and the first Italian long-distance ferry equipped with this technology, marking a major milestone in the fleet's innovation and sustainability journey.
2026 GNV Aurora joins the fleet, the second LNG-powered vessel, designed to ensure high environmental standards and a significant reduction in emissions compared with previous-generation vessels.
Grandi Navi Veloci SpA, Via Balleydier 7 - 16149 Genoa - www.gnv.it
Chairman: Pierfrancesco Vago
Chief Executive Officer: Matteo Catani
Passenger Contact Center: 010.2094591 - info@gnv.it
Cargo Contact Center: 010.5509339 - cargo@gnv.it