The Italian shipping company Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) wants to launch a new line that will connect the French port of Sète to the Algerian port of Béjaïa. This project, which is currently being studied, is part of the expansion strategy in North Africa to boost trade.

GNV, a major player in transport in the Mediterranean, plans to extend its lines to Algeria through a regular connection between Sète and Béjaïa. This connection meets a real need for connectivity for both passengers and freight between Europe and the Maghreb. Already established on the France-Morocco axis, the company is looking to diversify its offers and strengthen its presence in a growing sector.

Towards the end of 2024, a GNV team travelled to Béjaïa to assess the level of port infrastructure and the capacity of the site. The aim is to set up a flexible and complementary offer to existing connections. Currently, the route between Sète and Béjaïa is only served seasonally by Corsica Linea, while Marseille offers regular crossings via Algérie Ferries and Corsica Linea.

This ambition of GNV to serve this line could increase competition with advantages for users. They could concern the multiplication of frequencies, the competitiveness of rates which will give more advantages to passengers. This diversification is part of a market marked by an expansion with an increase in passenger and freight traffic between Europe and North Africa, in particular due to economic exchanges and migratory flows.

To date, no date has been announced for the launch. This project reflects GNV's desire to capitalize on Algerian potential. Algeria is a major relay for Mediterranean trade. The realization of this project will depend essentially on the conclusions of the study and coordination with local port authorities.