Grandi Navi Veloci

{{Short description|Italian ferry operator}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Grandi Navi Veloci S.p.A.

| logo = File:GNV logo.svg

| type = Società per azioni

| founded = 1992

| area_served = Mediterranean Sea

| key_people =

| industry = Transport

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| assets =

| equity =

| num_employees =

| parent = MSC Group

| footnotes =

| location =

| locations =

| homepage = {{URL|https://www.gnv.it/en}}

}}

File:SNAV Sardegna (ship, 1989), Sète 01.jpg ]]

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, {{as of|2018}}, currently operates a fleet of thirteen cruise ferries, including some of the largest ferries in Europe. Its CEO is Matteo Catani.

Coronavirus pandemic

{{Update|section|date=March 2025|reason="the hospital ship is currently treating only coronavirus patients ..." is probably not that current anymore, what happened after the pandemic?}}

File:Splendid PB030988.jpg

Grandi Navi Veloci converted one of their ferries, {{ill|Splendid (ferry)|lt=Splendid|it|Splendid (traghetto)}}, into a hospital ship in order to treat coronavirus patients.{{cite web |url=https://www.msccruisesusa.com/news/gnv-floating-hospital/ |title=MSC GROUP'S GRANDI NAVI VELOCI (GNV) CONVERTS FERRY INTO FLOATING HOSPITAL FOR CORONAVIRUS RELIEF IN GENOA, ITALY |date= 25 March 2020|website=www.msccruisesusa.com|access-date=2020-05-11}} The ship was delivered to Liguria, Italy, on 23 March 2020, and was made available for the symbolic cost of 1 EUR.{{Cite web|url=http://info.gnv.it/nave-ospedale|title=Da traghetto a nave ospedale: la nuova avventura della Gnv Splendid|website=GNV Nave Ospedale}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/splendid-case-study-how-first-passenger-ship-was-transformed-coronavirus-relief|title=Splendid case study — how the first passenger ship was transformed for coronavirus relief|date=March 20, 2020|website=seatrade-cruise.com}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/news-content-hub/how-gnv-converted-a-ferry-to-a-floating-hospitalnbspnbsp-59068|title=How GNV converted a ferry to a floating hospital|website=Riviera}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.advtraining.it/articolo/546-gnv-splendid-trasfomata-in-nave-ospedale|title=Turismo & Attualità - GNV Splendid trasfomata in nave ospedale|website=www.advtraining.it}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=9015747|title=SPLENDID Current position (Passenger/Ro-Ro Cargo Ship, IMO 9015747) - VesselFinder|website=www.vesselfinder.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.lavocedigenova.it/2020/05/06/leggi-notizia/argomenti/sanita-2/articolo/il-medico-a-bordo-della-nave-ospedale-ne-servono-altre-per-isolare-i-pazienti.html|title=Il medico a bordo della nave-ospedale: "Ne servono altre per isolare i pazienti"|date=May 6, 2020|website=La Voce di Genova}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/grandi-navi-veloci-converts-ferry-into-floating-hospital-1|title=Grandi Navi Veloci converts ferry into floating hospital|website=CruiseandFerry.net}}

Fleet

= Current fleet =

class="wikitable"

! Ship

FlagBuiltEntered serviceGross tonnageLengthWidthPassengersVehiclesKnotsImage
Majesticrowspan="18" | {{flagicon|ITA}}colspan="2" align="Center" | 1993align="Center" | {{GT|32,777}}align="Center" | 188.2 mrowspan="3" align="Center" | 27.6 malign="Center" | 1,790align="Center" | 760align="Center" | 21200px
Splendidcolspan="2" align="Center" | 1994align="Center" | {{GT|39,139}}align="Center" | 214.5 malign="Center" | 2,200align="Center" | 1,010align="Center" | 21200px
Fantasticcolspan="2" align="Center" | 1996align="Center" | {{GT|35,222}}align="Center" | 188.2 malign="Center" | 2,033align="Center" | 760align="Center" | 21200px
Excellentcolspan="2" align="Center" | 1998align="Center" | {{GT|39,777}}align="Center" | 202.2 mrowspan="2" align="Center" | 28 malign="Center" | 2,230align="Center" | 760align="Center" | 24200px
Excelsiorcolspan="2" align="Center" | 1999align="Center" | {{GT|39,777}}align="Center" | 202.2 malign="Center" | 2,253align="Center" | 760align="Center" | 24200px
La Supremacolspan="2" align="Center" | 2003align="Center" | {{GT|49,257}}align="Center" | 211.5 malign="Center" | 30.4 malign="Center" | 2,920align="Center" | 984align="Center" | 28200px
GNV Azzurraalign="Center" | 1981rowspan="3" align="Center" | 2013align="Center" | {{GT|29,706}}align="Center" | 168.5 malign="Center" | 24.5 malign="Center" | 2,180align="Center" | 570align="Center" | 17200px
GNV Cristalalign="Center" | 1989rowspan="2" align="Center" | {{GT|33,336}}rowspan="2" align="Center" | 161.3 mrowspan="2" align="Center" | 29 malign="Center" | 2,000align="Center" | 575align="Center" | 18200px
GNV Atlasalign="Center" | 1990align="Center" | 2,000align="Center" | 575align="Center" | 18200px
Rhapsodyalign="Center" | 1996align="Center" | 2015align="Center" | {{GT|37,768}}align="Center" | 161.8 malign="Center" | 38.8 malign="Center" | 2,448align="Center" | 716align="Center" | 23.5200px
GNV Blualign="Center" | 1989align="Center" | 2017align="Center" | {{GT|31,910}}align="Center" | 164.4 malign="Center" | 27.6 malign="Center" | 1,320align="Center" | 455align="Center" | 19.5200px
GNV Allegraalign="Center" | 1987align="Center" | 2019align="Center" | {{GT|31,914}}align="Center" | 166.3 malign="Center" | 28.4 malign="Center" | 1,458align="Center" | 580align="Center" | 21.5200px
Tenaciaalign="Center" | 2008align="Center" | 2020align="Center" | {{GT|26,005}}align="Center" | 199 mrowspan="2" align="Center" | 26.6 mrowspan="2" align="Center" | 500rowspan="2" align="Center" | 600align="Center" | 24200px
Forzaalign="Center" | 2010align="Center" | 2020align="Center" | {{GT|25,530}}align="Center" | 199 malign="Center" | 24200px
GNV Antaresalign="Center" | 1987rowspan="3" align="Center" | 2021align="Center" | {{GT|31,598}}align="Center" | 179.4 malign="Center" | 25.4 malign="Center" | 888align="Center" | 850align="Center" | 18200px
GNV Sealandalign="Center" | 2009align="Center" | {{GT|26,904}}align="Center" | 186.5 malign="Center" | 25.6 malign="Center" | 830align="Center" | 200align="Center" | 24200px
GNV Bridgealign="Center" | 2021align="Center" | {{GT|32,581}}rowspan="2" align="Center" | 203.3 mrowspan="2" align="Center" | 25 malign="Center" | 1,000align="Center" | 240align="Center" | 24200px
GNV Spiritalign="Center" | 2001align="Center" | 2022align="Center" | {{GT|32,728}}align="Center" | 1,595align="Center" | 712align="Center" | 28200px
Golden Bridge{{flagicon|CYP}}align="Center" | 1990align="Center" | 2021align="Center" | {{GT|26,463}}align="Center" | 186.5 malign="Center" | 24.8 malign="Center" | 1,500align="Center" | 500align="Center" | 23.5200px
GNV Siriorowspan="3" | {{flagicon|ITA}}align="Center" | 2004rowspan="3" align="Center" | 2024rowspan="2" align="Center" | {{GT|39,798}}rowspan="2" align="Center" | 214 mrowspan="2" align="Center" | 26.4 malign="Center" | 2,908align="Center" | 1,080align="Center" | 27.5200px
GNV Aurigaalign="Center" | 2005align="Center" | 2,908align="Center" | 1,080align="Center" | 27.5200px
GNV Polarisalign="Center" | 2024align="Center" | {{GT|47,089}}align="Center" | 218 malign="Center" | 29.6 malign="Center" | 1,500align="Center" | 1,360align="Center" | 25200px
GNV Orion''{{flagicon|ITA}}align="Center" | 2025align="Center" | 2025align="Center" | {{GT|52,000}}align="Center" | 218 malign="Center" | 29.6 malign="Center" | 1,785align="Center" | 1,360align="Center" | 25200px

= Future Ships =

class="wikitable"

! Ship

FlagBuiltWill Enter ServiceGross tonnageLengthWidthPassengersVehiclesKnots
GNV Virgo{{flagicon|ITA}}align="Center" | 2026align="Center" | 2026align="Center" | {{GT|52,000}}align="Center" | 218 malign="Center" | 29.6 malign="Center" | 1,785align="Center" | 1,360align="Center" | 25
GNV Aurora{{flagicon|ITA}}align="Center" | 2026align="Center" | 2026align="Center" | {{GT|52,000}}align="Center" | 218 malign="Center" | 29.6 malign="Center" | 1,785align="Center" | 1,360align="Center" | 25

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.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-46049744 |title= Barcelona port: Fire as ferry crashes into crane |publisher= BBC News |date= 31 October 2018 }}{{cite news |url= https://www.maritimeherald.com/2018/wind-gusts-influenced-the-ferry-crash-in-the-port-of-barcelona/ |title= Wind Gusts Influenced the Ferry Crash in the Port of Barcelona |date= 1 November 2018 |agency= El Periodico |publisher= Maritime Herald }}{{cite news |url= https://www.cruisehive.com/passenger-vessel-strikes-crane-at-popular-cruise-port-in-europe/27485 |title= Passenger Vessel Strikes Crane at Popular Cruise Port in Europe |author= Emrys Thakkar |date= 31 October 2018 |publisher= Cruise Hive }}

References

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