Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) is an Italian shipping company, based in Genoa, that operates ferries between mainland Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, France, Spain, Albania, Morocco and Tunisia. It was established by Aldo Grimaldi in 1992.

History

GNV was created in 1992 by Aldo Grimaldi, initially as a subsidiary of Grimaldi Group. The first ship of the company, Majestic, entered service in 1993 on the Genoa-Palermo route, followed in 1994 by the sistership Splendid on the Genoa-Porto Torres route. Majestic and Splendid were the first cruiseferries ever operated by an Italian company.

The fleet was enlarged with new cruise ferries through the 1990s, and in 2000 the company went public. New routes were added, including Livorno-Palermo, Genoa-Olbia and Genoa-Barcelona. In 2002 and 2003 the new, large cruise ferries La Superba and La Suprema entered service. Lines for Tunisia, as well a new Civitavecchia-Palermo line, were opened.

In 2008 the fleet was enlarged with three ro-ro cargo ships, Audacia, Tenacia, and Coraggio, and a new Genoa-Barcelona-Tangier line was opened. In 2009, GNV became fully independent from the Grimaldi family and Grimaldi Group. In 2010 the company was acquired by the MSC Group; in the same year, GNV merged with SNAV, also a subsidiary of MSC. In 2012, following the ceasing of the services by Comarit and Comanav, GNV opened new lines between Sète, Tangier and Nador. In 2015, GNV opened a new line between Italy and Albania.

The company, , currently operates a fleet of thirteen cruise ferries, including some of the largest ferries in Europe. Its CEO is Matteo Catani.

Coronavirus pandemic

Grandi Navi Veloci converted one of their ferries, the Splendid, into a hospital ship in order to treat coronavirus patients. The ship was delivered to Liguria, Italy, on 23 March 2020, and was made available for the symbolic cost of 1 EUR. With help from Registro Italiano Navale and a number of local and national companies, many of which donated their time, materials, and expertise, Splendid was converted into a hospital ship in roughly 10 days. Docked at Genoa's Ponte Colombo, the hospital ship is currently treating only coronavirus patients without serious pathologies, such as patients recovering after having been previously intubated.

Fleet Current fleet Ship Flag Built Entered service Gross tonnage Length Width Passengers Vehicles Knots Image Majestic 1993 1993 188.2 m 27.6 m 1,790 760 21 Splendid 1994 1994 214.5 m 27.6 m 2,200 1,010 21 Fantastic 1996 1996 188.2 m 27.6 m 2,033 760 21 Excellent 1998 1998 202.2 m 28 m 2,230 760 24 Excelsior 1999 1999 202.2 m 28 m 2,253 760 24 La Suprema 2003 2003 211.5 m 30.4 m 2,920 984 28 GNV Azzurra 1981 2013 168.5 m 24.5 m 2,180 570 17 GNV Cristal 1989 2013 161.3 m 29 m 2,000 575 18 GNV Atlas 1990 2013 161.3 m 29 m 2,000 575 18 Rhapsody 1996 2015 161.8 m 38.8 m 2,448 716 23.5 GNV Blu 1989 2017 164.4 m 27.6 m 1,320 455 19.5 GNV Allegra 1987 2019 166.3 m 28.4 m 1,458 580 21.5 Tenacia 2008 2020 199 m 26.6 m 500 600 24 Forza 2010 2020 199 m 26.6 m 500 600 24 GNV Sealand 2009 2009 186.5 m 25.6 m 830 200 24 GNV Spirit 2001 2022 203.9 m 25 m 1,595 712 28 Golden Bridge 1990 2021 186.5 m 24.8 m 1,500 500 23.5 Golden Carrier 1986 2025 188.9 m 22.1 m 370 800 18 GNV Sirio 2004 2024 214 m 26.4 m 2,908 1,080 27.5 GNV Auriga 2005 2024 214 m 26.4 m 2,908 1,080 27.5 GNV Polaris 2024 2024 218 m 29.6 m 1,500 1,360 25 GNV Orion 2025 2025 218 m 29.6 m 1,785 1,360 25 GNV Virgo 2025 2025 218 m 29.6 1,785 1,360 25 GNV Altair 2002 2026 214 m 26.4 m 2,700 900 29.5 GNV Aurora 2026 2026 218 m 29.6 m 1,785 1,360 25 GNV Phoenix20032026214 m26.4 m2,70090029.5GNV Pegasus20012026214 m26.4 m2,70090029.5

Former Fleet +ShipFlagBuiltEntered ServiceGross TonnageLengthWidthPassengersVechilesKnotsImageVictory1989199828,112187.132795055023.5La Superba2002200249,270211.5030.403,0001.00028GNV Aries1987202131,7851792595085019GNV Antares1987202131,7851792595085019

Accidents and incidents On 31 October 2018, a 8:00am local time, the Excellent crashed into the Port of Barcelona (ESBCN) after a gust of wind drove it into the cargo pier, smashing into a gantry crane, which tipped over onto containers holding flammable chemicals, which caught fire, causing toxic smoke, and setting the pier ablaze. The Excellent had been trying to dock, but was prevented from doing so due to bad weather.

References

External links Company website