Fast track across the Mediterranean

Grandi Navi Veloci is one of the main Italian shipping companies operating in the sector of goods and passenger transport in the Mediterranean.

Grandi Navi Veloci celebrates this year 20 years of activity sailing in the Mediterranean Sea. The company was established in 1992 and the first ship, the m/s Majestic, was launched in 1993.

During the last 20 years, the group has succeeded in adapting to the market’s needs and interpreting the demand to increase maritime links with North Africa. GNV adopted a strategy based on the high quality of services provided and the reliability of its ferries and staff on board.

The connections with Sardinia and Sicily, Maghreb and Spain are Grandi Navi Veloci’s core business. It operates the following lines: Genoa-Palermo, Civitavecchia-Termini Imerese, Civitavecchia-Palermo, Genoa-Porto Torres, Genoa-Tunis, Civitavecchia-Tunis, Palermo-Tunis, Genoa-Tangiers, BarcelonaTangiers, Genoa-Barcelona, Sète-Tangiers, Sète-Nador.

Changes in Management and structure

Grandi Navi Veloci has effected some changes in its financial structure during the last few years. In 2009, the Grimaldi family left the shareholding structure and management of Grandi

Navi Veloci. The shareholding structure was split between Investitori Associati (67.1 per cent), IDeA Co-Investment Fund (20.1 per cent), Charme (9.2 per cent), management (2.1 per cent) and other shareholders (1.5 per cent). In 2010, Roberto Martinoli became CEO and Chairman of Grandi Navi Veloci.

In 2012, the Shareholders’ Meeting decided to increase the equity to 30 million Euros. The Company is now owned by Marinvest (50 per cent), Associated Investors (43.40 per cent) IDeA Co-Investment Fund (3.66 per cent), Charme (1.83 per cent) and other shareholders (1.11 per cent). Moreover, on the 26th of May 2012, two new routes were inaugurated, in particular the maritime links between the French port of Sète and the Moroccan ports of Tangier and Nador.

A customer oriented group

Grandi Navi Veloci ferries combine efficiency and high quality standards. GNV ships are equipped with advanced technology and high-level services, including car and domestic animals transport as well as à la carte restaurants, coffee shops, shopping centres, discos, swimming pools, children’s rooms, games rooms, slot machines, conference centres and meeting rooms, chapels and libraries.

Offering a quality service means placing the customer at the centre of company policy by paying careful attention to all aspects concerning technology, relations, organisation and image. These features have always made Grandi Navi Veloci a choice of distinction.

Investing in effective customer care is a key strategy for the Italian group, an investment that is especially oriented towards guaranteeing the highest possible level of safety for the passengers. In 2009 Grandi Navi Veloci renewed its certification in compliance with the new ISO 9001:2008 standards. The quality certification has been issued to the company uninterruptedly since 1997, on the basis of stringent three-year controls. Certifications and awards

Since 1998 Grandi Navi Veloci has consolidated the “Quality Project” at international level, also obtaining foreign accreditations: the German Deutscher Akkreditierungs Rat and the Spanish body Entidad Nacional de Acreditación.

In May 2012, Grandi Navi Veloci received the Quality LRQA Italia Marine Award 2012 – Towards Sustainable Business from Lloyd’s Register, for implementation of the procedures related to company quality ISO 9001. In June 2012, the company also received the OHSAS 18001 certification; it was the first Italian shipping company to receive certification for the level of health and safety in the workplace from LRQA, which the company is committed to carry out in all its structures, on board and on land. n