At Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China, GNV, a subsidiary of the MSC Group, has taken delivery of GNV AURORA.

As the second LNG-powered unit in the fleet, and the final vessel of GNV’s first fleet renewal phase, GNV AURORA is scheduled to enter active service at the beginning of April 2026.

The ship will be deployed on the vital Genoa–Palermo route, a move GNV says will “strengthen the national network and support more efficient management of traffic flows”.

Technical Details

• Gross tonnage: 52,300 GT
• Length / beam: 218 m / 29.6 m
• Max speed: 25 knots
• Passenger capacity: 1,785 (420+ cabins)
• Cargo capacity: 2,770 lane metres
• Propulsion: LNG dual-fuel

While the delivery of GNV AURORA closes the first chapter of fleet renewal, GNV’s modernisation is far from over. The company has already confirmed a second phase involving four additional LNG-powered vessels, with deliveries starting in late 2027.

These next-generation ships will be even larger, with a projected:

• Increased size: 71,300 GT (up from 52,300 GT)
• Enhanced capacity: 2,500 passengers and 3,500 lane metres of garage space
• Strategic goal: reaching a total of eight new LNG-ready units by 2030, to modernise the “Motorways of the Sea” infrastructure