The seventh edition of the GNV Awards took place in Marrakech, celebrating the company's partnerships with travel agencies and honoring its top-performing partners. GNV, an Italian ferry company owned by the MSC Group, reported significant growth in passenger and freight volumes for the first nine months of 2026. The company transported approximately 2.2 million passengers, a 2% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
GNV also saw a 5% rise in freight volumes, with 1.84 million linear meters of cargo transported between January and September 2026. The company's growth trend is attributed to its strengthened presence in North African markets, particularly in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. In Morocco and Tunisia, GNV's performance is consistent with 2025, while Algeria has shown significant improvement.
The company's positive trend is also reflected in its Italian island routes, with Sicily seeing an 8% increase and Sardinia a 6% increase in passenger and freight volumes. The Balearic Islands and Albania have maintained stable volumes. GNV's growth is driven by its strategic partnerships, including a new three-year agreement with the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) to promote tourism and strengthen maritime connections between Morocco and Europe.
The partnership will involve joint promotional initiatives, integrated communication campaigns, and combined travel offers that include sea crossings and Moroccan tourist packages. This collaboration aims to enhance Morocco's position as a tourist destination and a strategic mobility hub in the Mediterranean. GNV's CEO, Matteo Catani, emphasized the importance of the Moroccan market and the company's commitment to investing in its growth.
GNV has also unveiled the names of its new ships, which will join its fleet in the coming years. The four new vessels, powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), are named GNV Jupiter, GNV Mars, GNV Venus, and GNV Mercury. The first ship, GNV Jupiter, is currently under construction in China and is expected to be delivered by the end of 2027, with a capacity for 2,500 passengers and 3,500 linear meters of freight.
The new ships are part of GNV's fleet renewal plan, which has already seen the introduction of four new vessels over the past 18 months. The company's expansion plan is supported by its parent company, the MSC Group. GNV's growth strategy focuses on quality of service, innovation, and international expansion, with a strong emphasis on its North African markets.
The GNV Awards ceremony also recognized the company's top-performing travel agencies, with new Elite Partner and Elite Premium agencies being designated. The event highlighted GNV's commitment to its commercial partners and its appreciation for their contributions to the company's growth.
Key points
- GNV transported 2.2 million passengers and 1.84 million linear meters of freight between January and September 2026.
- The company has signed a three-year partnership with the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) to promote tourism and strengthen maritime connections.
- GNV's new ships, powered by LNG, will join its fleet in the coming years, with the first ship, GNV Jupiter, expected to be delivered by the end of 2027.
