2026 Marhaba Operation: GNV Expands Italy-Morocco Routes via Barcelona Hub

Marrakech – Italian ferry operator Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), part of the MSC group, is expanding its connections between Italy and Morocco with the deployment of two new vessels and the use of Barcelona as a strategic transit hub linking Genoa and Tanger Med.

The new service will launch during summer 2026. It will be operated by the vessels GNV Aurora and GNV Virgo, both powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The GNV Aurora is scheduled to enter service on June 1, followed by the GNV Virgo on July 1.

Both ships will operate weekly departures from Genoa, their base port, with LNG refueling taking place every four days in Liguria.

According to GNV CEO Matteo Catani, the deployment of these vessels is primarily aimed at improving passenger services. He said the company seeks to offer Moroccan citizens living in Europe and their families a more comfortable and reliable travel experience.

He also stressed that the move reflects Morocco’s growing importance in the company’s strategy, as the country gains relevance in international logistics and regional mobility flows.

Read also: Armas Trasmediterránea Expands Capacity Ahead of Operation Marhaba 2026

The expansion also reinforces the role of the Tanger Med port as a central logistics platform for trade between Europe and Africa. GNV stated that it aims to contribute to strengthening economic exchanges across the Mediterranean and support the growing commercial flows linked to Morocco’s development.

The initiative is supported by coordination with Moroccan institutions, including the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Merchant Navy, and the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, alongside Tanger Med port authorities.

Each vessel will have a capacity of over 1,700 passengers, 426 cabins, and up to 2,780 linear meters of cargo. LNG propulsion is expected to reduce emissions by up to 50% per unit of transported cargo compared to previous generations. The ships are also equipped to connect to onshore power while docked.

During Operation Marhaba 2025, Morocco recorded more than 4.06 million arrivals of Moroccans living abroad between June 10 and September 15, marking an 11% increase compared to 2024.

The operation relies heavily on maritime routes, bringing into focus the importance of ports such as Tanger Med in managing peak flows that reached up to 86,000 crossings per day.

In this context, GNV’s new deployment is positioned to capture both passenger demand and cargo flows during peak seasonal movements, particularly those linked to diaspora travel and cross-Mediterranean trade.

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