Shipping company GNV (MSC Group) has reaffirmed its strategic commitment to Morocco at the christening of the “GNV Aurora,” the newest flagship of its fleet, which will operate on the Genoa-Tangier Med route.
This commitment is demonstrated by the deployment of the GNV Aurora and the GNV Virgo, the company’s two newest and most technologically advanced vessels, both powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), thus promoting the adoption of transition fuels such as bioLNG and synthetic LNG.
Combined with the christening celebrations of the GNV Aurora, part of a €1.3 billion (nearly 14 billion dirhams) fleet renewal program to 2030, this decision confirms the central role of intra-Mediterranean connections in the company’s development strategy, as well as the growing importance of the North African market within the GNV network.
Speaking at the ceremony held Monday evening in Tangier, in the north of the kingdom, the Moroccan Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, indicated that GNV’s major investment illustrates its renewed confidence in the potential of the Moroccan market and its
ongoing commitment to supporting the development of maritime links between Morocco and Europe.
According to the minister, the commissioning of the GNV Aurora, alongside its sister ship GNV Virgo, comes at a pivotal moment, on the eve of the launch of Operation Marhaba 2026, and will contribute to strengthening transport capacity while offering greater comfort, reliability, and quality of service to travelers.
He noted that Morocco is working to implement a new strategic maritime vision aimed at fostering a truly integrated, innovative, and competitive national maritime ecosystem, reaffirming the kingdom’s commitment to continuing to strengthen its partnerships with all stakeholders involved in building a more connected, competitive, and sustainable Mediterranean maritime space.
Tourism, Handicrafts, and the Social and Solidarity Economy minister, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, indicated that Italy is currently Morocco’s fifth largest tourist market, with over one million visitors expected in 2025, nearly 15% of whom arrive by sea.
The minister added that the GNV Aurora will contribute to strengthening the attractiveness of Moroccan destinations and generating economic benefits for local areas and tourism operators,
welcoming the renewed confidence of international partners in the kingdom’s tourism potential.
GNV’s CEO, Matteo Catani, noted that “GNV Aurora concretely represents the direction we have chosen for the company’s future: investing in technologies capable of reconciling safety, environmental sustainability, operational efficiency, and quality of the travel experience,” emphasising that Morocco is an increasingly central market in GNV’s development strategy in the Mediterranean.
The GNV Aurora and GNV Virgo will be operational from June 1st and July 1st of this year, respectively, on the Tangier Med, Barcelona, and Genoa routes.
The Catalan capital will serve as a transit hub for the entire network connecting Morocco, Spain, and Italy, while Genoa will be the main LNG bunkering port for both vessels, with refueling on average every 4 to 5 days.
Simultaneously, the company is strengthening its role in supporting trade between Italy and Morocco via the port of Tangier Med, the main logistics hub in North Africa and a strategic gateway to the African continent.
AK/Sf/fss/as/APA