December 23, 2025. The christening ceremony of the GNV Virgo, GNV’s newest vessel and the company’s first unit powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), took place on December 11 in the port of Palermo, Italy.
The event marks a significant step forward in the Italian shipping company’s decarbonization of passenger maritime transport. The GNV Virgo is, in fact, Italy’s first long-distance ferry powered by LNG.
The GNV Virgo is the third in a series of eight vessels, and the company is considering incorporating the ferries from its new LNG-powered fleet into its services from the port of Barcelona in the future, stated Matteo Catani, CEO of GNV, during the event held in Palermo.
This ferry will initially operate on the Genoa–Palermo route. However, according to the executive, “in early 2026, GNV’s second LNG-powered ferry will also operate on the Palermo–Genoa route.”
The Genoa–Palermo route is the first and historic route with which the shipping company began its operations: a relationship that continues to be strengthened through concrete investments and a stable presence in the region. In keeping with this commitment, GNV has chosen Palermo to position its newest and most technologically advanced vessels: after the GNV Polaris and GNV Orion, the GNV Virgo has now arrived.
The use of LNG, along with the ferry’s other innovations, will reduce CO2 emissions by around 50% per unit compared to previous generation vessels.
Technologically, the GNV Virgo incorporates the most advanced environmental solutions: cold ironing readiness, heat recovery technologies, and all the equipment necessary to meet IMO Tier III and EEDI Stage II requirements. With a gross tonnage of approximately 52,300 tons, a length of 218 meters, a beam of 29.60 meters, and a maximum speed of 25 knots, the vessel has more than 420 cabins, can accommodate 1,785 passengers, and offers a cargo capacity of 2,770 linear meters.
