GNV orders four new LNG-fuelled RoPax vessels from Guangzhou Shipyard

European shipping company Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), part of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Group, on Thursday (1 May) signed an order for four new LNG -powered RoPax vessels from a Chinese shipyard.

The vessels will be built by Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China.

This new order, combined with a previous order, will allow GNV to expand its fleet with eight new units between 2025 and 2030.

“Work will begin in 2026, with the first ship delivered within the first months of 2028 and the following ones every six months,” it said in a social media post. 

“The new units, with a capacity of 2,500 people, over 500 cabins, and 3,500 linear metres of garage space, will be the largest and most spacious in the Mediterranean by tonnage (71,300 tonnes).”

The new vessels will all be powered by LNG, ensuring a reduction in CO2 emissions of over 50% per unit compared to the previous generation. 

“This significant operation provides a strong push towards the transition to more sustainable and environmentally friendly models,” the company said.

GNV added the four newly ordered ships will represent an evolution compared to those from the previous order, which includes GNV Polaris and GNV Orion (shown in the image).

Photo credit: Grandi Navi Veloci
Published: 9 May, 2025