Millions of Moroccans living abroad are expected to head home this summer, and ferry operator GNV is getting ready by putting two new ships into service on its Morocco routes.
The Italian company has launched the LNG-powered GNV Aurora on the Genoa, Barcelona and Tanger Med route. A second ship, the GNV Virgo, is due to start operating on the same route in July.
The move comes as Morocco begins Operation Marhaba 2026, the annual summer programme that helps more than three million Moroccans travel between Europe and the kingdom.
The two ships cost €360m to build and are part of a larger €1.3bn plan to modernise GNV’s fleet by 2030.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Tangier, Transport Minister Abdessamad Kayouh said the ferry routes are more than transport links.
“These are not just commercial routes, but human bridges,” he said.
Each ship can carry up to 1,700 passengers and around 600 vehicles. They are also among the first ferries on Morocco routes to run on liquefied natural gas.
GNV says the ships can cut carbon emissions by up to 50% compared with older vessels. They can also connect to electricity while docked, allowing their engines to be switched off in port.
Barcelona will serve as the main stop connecting Morocco, Spain and Italy, while Genoa will be used for refuelling operations.
The launch comes as travel between Morocco and Italy continues to grow. More than one million Italian tourists visited Morocco last year, making Italy the country’s fifth-largest tourism market. Around 15% of them travelled by sea.
Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor attended the launch and said stronger sea links support Morocco’s wider tourism goals.
GNV has been operating in Morocco for nearly 20 years and says it has carried about six million passengers during that time. More than 465,000 people travelled on its Morocco routes in 2025, and the company expects that figure to rise above 500,000 with the arrival of the new ships.
The company also plans to add Moroccan touches on board, including local food, crafts and artisan products. It says around 250 Moroccans work across its operations.
