La compagnie italienne GNV lance une ligne maritime Alger-Sète
On Wednesday, the Italian company Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) launched its new maritime passenger service between Algiers and the French port of Sète, aiming to enhance maritime transport dynamics between the two cities.
The inaugural voyage of the Italian ferry « Excellent » marked its debut on this route, arriving in Algiers around 3 PM with 949 passengers, 653 vehicles, and six motorcycles from Sète. Many of the travelers, who came to celebrate Eid al-Adha with their families in Algeria, welcomed this initiative, expressing that the new line offers them greater flexibility for travel between Algeria and France.
The official inauguration ceremony took place onboard the ferry upon its arrival in Algiers, attended by prominent figures including the President’s Advisor for NGOs and Human Rights, Hamid Lounaouci; the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Transport, Djamel Eddine Abdelghani Dridi; the President of the Algerian Economic Renewal Council, Kamel Moula; and Italy’s ambassador to Algeria, Alberto Cutillo, along with various maritime transport officials.
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Transport praised GNV’s line opening in partnership with Algerian operator AFLT Maritime as a means to enhance services for the Algerian community abroad. The Italian ambassador expressed satisfaction with the partnership and hoped it would expand to additional maritime connections between Algerian and Italian cities.
A weekly crossing is scheduled between Algiers and Sète, as explained by AFLT Maritime’s CEO, Hamid Batata. Additionally, another route is expected to open on June 9, connecting Béjaïa to Sète. Batata noted ongoing discussions to extend GNV’s service network in Algeria to include the port of Genoa. The GNV CEO also affirmed the company’s readiness to leverage its expertise to strengthen maritime transport services for Algerians living abroad.
This new line not only aims to facilitate travel but also reflects a growing partnership between Algeria and Italy, particularly in the maritime sector. With an important expatriate community in Europe, this service is expected to significantly enhance connectivity and foster cultural ties. GNV’s commitment to expanding its operations in Algeria suggests promising opportunities for future growth in cross-border maritime trade and passenger transport.
