ferry Caroline Russ GNV
ferry Caroline Russ
âš“ The Caroline Russ is a RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) freight vessel run by GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci) on the Genoa – Palermo – Malta (Valletta) link, one of the busiest freight routes in the central Mediterranean. With a cargo capacity of roughly 1,620 lane metres for vehicles and rolling freight, the Caroline Russ is a mainstay of the Motorways of the Sea that connect mainland Italy with Sicily and Malta.
Unlike the big passenger cruise ferries in the GNV fleet, the Caroline Russ is essentially a freight ship, with very limited space for drivers accompanying their loads. Her main job is to keep rolling freight moving between Liguria, Sicily and Malta, above all semi-trailers, lorries and industrial vehicles.
The ship is controlled by the German company Ernst Russ AG and has been on charter to GNV since March 2018. Her sister ship, the Elisabeth Russ, shares the same design and has worked the same route alongside her. Both have had their charter contracts renewed time and again, which says a great deal about how strategically important this freight service is to GNV.
History and background of the ship
The Caroline Russ (IMO 9197533) is a steel-built Ro-Ro freight vessel constructed between 1997 and 1999 at the German J.J. Sietas Schiffswerft yard in Hamburg, hull number 1188. Delivered in June 1999 to owner Ernst Russ, she spent her early years in the North Sea and the Baltic, chartered to European logistics operators for bulk trailer traffic. In 2016 she was chartered by Stena Line on the Rotterdam–Killingholme route and in 2019 she moved to P&O Ferries on the Calais–Tilbury service.
She was later taken on by Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) to strengthen its Mediterranean freight division. Today she works as a "lorry of the seas" on the Genoa–Palermo corridor and the strategic Genoa–Malta route, keeping goods and heavy freight lorries moving across the central Mediterranean. With 1,624 lane metres and room for around 120 trailers, she frees up deck space on the company's big cruise ferries during the summer peaks. She currently sails under the Portuguese flag (Madeira).
The Caroline Russ was built in 1999 by the J.J. Sietas KG yard in Hamburg (Germany), hull number 1188, as a RoRo freight vessel. Following her delivery on 30 June 1999 to Caroline Russ Schiffahrts (managed by Ernst Russ GmbH & Co KG), she was chartered first to Transfennica Ltd. for North Sea and Baltic services (the Frederikshavn – Tilbury – Antwerp route and various Baltic runs between Lübeck, Hangö, Gdynia and St Petersburg).
In January 2016 she was chartered to Corsica Linea for services between Corsica and Marseille. Then, in March 2018, she joined the GNV fleet to work the Genoa – Trapani – Valletta line. In September 2019 she took a short break for a refit at the Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo yard in Portugal and was chartered temporarily to P&O Ferries for the Calais – Tilbury route. In July 2020 she returned to GNV service on the Genoa – Palermo – Malta link, where she still operates today.
Full technical specifications
| Ship type | RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) freight vessel |
| Length overall | 153.38 m |
| Beam | 20 m |
| Draught | 6.9 m |
| Gross tonnage (GT) | 10,488 GT |
| Deadweight (DWT) | 7,261 t |
| Rolling freight capacity | ~1,620 lane metres |
| Propulsion | Single-shaft diesel engine (fixed-pitch propeller) |
| Service speed | ~17 knots |
| Shipyard | J.J. Sietas KG, Hamburg (Germany) · Hull no. 1188 |
| Year built | 1999 |
| IMO number | 9197533 |
| MMSI | 255805834 |
| Call sign | CQBF |
| Flag | Portugal (Madeira) |
| Owner | Ernst Russ AG (Hamburg, Germany) |
| Current operator | GNV – Grandi Navi Veloci (MSC Group) |
| Sister ship | Elisabeth Russ (IMO 9197545) |
| Joined GNV | March 2018 (in continuous service since July 2020) |
Routes operated and indicative timetables
| Route | Approx. duration | Frequency* |
|---|---|---|
| Genoa → Palermo (Sicily) | ~20 h | Several days a week |
| Palermo → Genoa | ~20 h | Several days a week |
| Palermo → Malta (Valletta) | ~9-10 h | Several times a week |
| Genoa → Malta (Valletta) via Palermo | ~29-30 h | Several times a week |
* The Caroline Russ is a freight vessel; her sailing times depend on GNV's operational planning and may change without notice. Check timetables and availability in our search engine.
The port of Genoa: access and freight operations
The Caroline Russ operates out of the Port of Genoa, Italy's largest port and one of the most important in the Mediterranean. GNV's RoRo terminals are clearly signposted from the A7 (Milan), A26 (Alessandria) and A10 (Riviera di Ponente) motorways. For hauliers shipping on the Caroline Russ, GNV has a dedicated terminal and its Webbill service for managing freight bookings online.
At the Port of Palermo, the Caroline Russ berths at the quays set aside for RoRo traffic. Malta (Valletta) offers the Grand Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world, with quays built for rolling freight at Flagstone Wharf and the DWQ.
Freight rates and how to book
The Caroline Russ is a rolling freight vessel operated chiefly to carry semi-trailers, lorries, vehicles and roll-on goods. Hauliers can manage their freight bookings through GNV's Webbill system (the members' area at gnv.it/cargo) or by contacting GNV's freight department in Genoa directly.
GNV publishes its current freight rates for Italian and international routes on its cargo portal. Specific rates for shipments to and from the Balearic Islands and other special routes are published on the official website.
Managing freight bookings:
- Webbill system: an online members' area for professional freight customers. It lets you manage, amend and confirm bookings on your own.
- GNV Cargo direct line: for special or oversized shipments, or any load needing particular transport conditions.
- GNV agents in Malta: Gollcher Shipping acts as GNV's agent in Malta and handles freight traffic in the Grand Harbour.
Which option should you choose for your journey?
The Caroline Russ is a pure freight vessel; she has no conventional passenger facilities of the kind found on GNV's big cruise ferries such as the La Suprema or the GNV Polaris. Here is a basic guide by type of traveller or shipper:
| If you need to... | Recommended option |
|---|---|
| Ship semi-trailers or lorries Genoa–Palermo–Malta | GNV Webbill freight booking / Caroline Russ |
| Travel with your vehicle and a bed on the same route | GNV cruise ferry (La Suprema, GNV Polaris, etc.) |
| Have a restaurant, a cabin and onboard services | GNV passenger ferries — see the full fleet |
| Send urgent or special freight Genoa–Malta | Contact GNV Cargo directly (gnv.it/cargo) |
ferry Caroline Russ · Accommodations
The Caroline Russ is a RoRo rolling freight vessel. She has no conventional passenger accommodation (cabins, seats or lounges) of the kind found on GNV's cruise ferries. Her operation is devoted entirely to rolling freight: lorries, semi-trailers and goods vehicles.
Looking to travel as a passenger on this route?
If you want to travel as a passenger on the Genoa–Palermo route with a cabin, a restaurant and full services, GNV runs passenger cruise ferries on the same line. See the full GNV fleet here.
ferry Caroline Russ · On-board services
The Caroline Russ as a Motorway of the Sea
The Caroline Russ is part of the Motorways of the Sea network promoted by GNV and the European Union. The idea — and GNV is one of its founding operators in the Mediterranean — is to shift freight transport from the road to the sea in order to cut traffic congestion, accidents and COâ‚‚ emissions. On the Genoa–Palermo–Malta route, the Caroline Russ lets lorries and semi-trailers that would otherwise cover hundreds of kilometres of motorway travel by sea instead, with a far smaller environmental footprint per tonne carried.
Operating history: 25 years crossing the Mediterranean
Since her launch in June 1999, the Caroline Russ has worked some of the most demanding seas in Europe:
- 1999–2016: Long-distance services in the North Sea and the Baltic (Transfennica). Routes linking Frederikshavn, Tilbury, Antwerp, Lübeck, Hangö, Gdynia, St Petersburg and Rauma.
- 2016: Chartered to Corsica Linea for services between Corsica and Marseille.
- March 2018: First spell with GNV. Genoa–Trapani–Valletta services.
- 2019: Refit in Portugal (Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo) and a brief period with P&O Ferries on the Calais–Tilbury route.
- July 2020 – present: Back with GNV on the Genoa–Palermo–Malta service, alongside her sister ship Elisabeth Russ.
Information for hauliers and port access
The Caroline Russ calls at three main ports, each with its own quirks for freight traffic:
- Genoa: the IMT terminal (Ignazio Messina Terminal) in the new port sector. Reached via the A7, A26 and A10. GNV has its own terminal with 24-hour freight handling.
- Palermo: the RoRo quays of the Port of Palermo, well connected to the Sicilian road network (A19 towards Catania, A29 towards Trapani).
- Malta (Valletta): the Grand Harbour. Flagstone Wharf, the DWQ and Laboratory Wharf have all regularly received the Caroline Russ. Local agent: Gollcher Shipping.
Caroline Russ vs Elisabeth Russ: sister ships
The Caroline Russ and the Elisabeth Russ are sister ships built at the same yard, in the same year and to almost identical specifications. Here are the main documented similarities and differences:
| Feature | Caroline Russ | Elisabeth Russ |
|---|---|---|
| IMO number | 9197533 | 9197545 |
| Shipyard / hull | Sietas KG · No. 1188 | Sietas KG · No. 1186 |
| Year built | 1999 | 1999 |
| Length overall | 153.38 m | ~153 m |
| Freight capacity | ~1,620 lane m | ~1,620 lane m |
| Owner | Ernst Russ AG | Ernst Russ AG |
| With GNV since | March 2018 | 2021 |
| Main GNV route | GE–PA–Malta | GE–PA–Malta |
Frequently asked questions about the Caroline Russ
Which routes does the Caroline Russ operate for GNV?
She mainly works the Genoa–Palermo–Malta (Valletta) link as a RoRo rolling freight vessel for GNV. She has also run the Genoa–Trapani–Valletta services since her first spell with GNV in 2018.
Does the Caroline Russ carry passengers?
Not in the usual sense. She is a pure freight vessel. If you want to travel as a passenger on the Genoa–Palermo route, GNV runs passenger cruise ferries on the same line with cabins, restaurants and full services.
How long does Genoa–Palermo take with GNV?
The Genoa–Palermo crossing takes about 20 hours. The extra Palermo–Malta leg adds another 9-10 hours. GNV runs this route several days a week.
How do you book freight transport on the Caroline Russ?
Through GNV's Webbill system (gnv.it/cargo) or by contacting GNV's freight department in Genoa directly. In Malta, the local agent is Gollcher Shipping.
What kind of freight does the Caroline Russ carry?
Rolling freight: semi-trailers, lorries, vans and industrial vehicles. Her capacity is roughly 1,620 lane metres. Access is via the stern ramp.
What are the dimensions of the Caroline Russ?
153.38 m long overall, with a 20 m beam and a 6.9 m draught. Gross tonnage: 10,488 GT. Deadweight: 7,261 t.
What is the IMO number of the Caroline Russ?
IMO 9197533. MMSI: 255805834. Call sign: CQBF. She sails under the Portuguese flag (Madeira).
Who owns the Caroline Russ?
She is owned by the German company Ernst Russ AG (Hamburg) and has been on charter to GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci), part of the MSC Group, since March 2018.
Does the Caroline Russ have a sister ship?
Yes. Her sister ship is the Elisabeth Russ (IMO 9197545), also built in 1999 by J.J. Sietas KG. The two have worked the Genoa–Palermo–Malta route for GNV at the same time.
How early should you reach the port with freight?
GNV advises arriving at least 2 hours before departure on routes within the EU. Freight check-in normally closes 60-45 minutes before sailing. Always bring the full booking and vehicle paperwork.
How fast is the Caroline Russ?
She sails at a service speed of roughly 17 knots, which lets her cover the Genoa–Palermo route in about 20 hours.
When was the Caroline Russ built?
She was launched on 3 June 1999, named on 26 June and handed over to her owner on 30 June 1999 by the J.J. Sietas KG yard in Hamburg (Germany), hull number 1188.
