ferry Elizabeth Russ GNV
ferry Elizabeth Russ
⚓ The Elizabeth Russ is a Ro-Ro rolling freight vessel run on charter by GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci) on the Genoa–Palermo–Malta route. With 1,624 lane metres of rolling freight capacity, this ship — built to carry lorries, trailers and industrial vehicles — calls at the port of Valletta three times a week, which makes her one of the pillars of GNV's Italy–Malta shipping corridor.
The Elizabeth Russ is owned by the German company Ernst Russ AG (Hamburg) and was built in 1999 at the J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft yard in Hamburg-Neuenfelde (yard number 1186), a well-known German builder of freight vessels and ferries. She belongs to a series of eight sister ships of the Sietas 163 type, which also includes the Caroline Russ (her sister ship in the GNV fleet) along with the Mistral, Miranda, Friedrich Russ, Seagard and Pauline Russ.
After a long career with various European operators in the Baltic and the Mediterranean, GNV added the Elizabeth Russ to its freight fleet in 2021 to strengthen the rolling freight link with Palermo and Malta. In 2024, GNV confirmed that the Elizabeth Russ and her sister ship Caroline Russ had carried more than 137,000 lane metres of freight in the first seven months of the year — 10% up on 2023 — cementing GNV's position as the leading operator in maritime trade with Malta, with a 33% market share.
History and background of the ship
The Elizabeth Russ (IMO 9186429) is the twin sister of the Caroline Russ, built almost in parallel at the J.J. Sietas Schiffswerft yard in Hamburg (hull number 1189) and delivered in May 1999. Owned by Ernst Russ, she spent her early years chartered to major Scandinavian companies — among them Transfennica — on heavy freight routes in the Baltic between Hanko (Finland) and Lübeck (Germany). She later extended her range to the North Sea and the western Mediterranean under contracts for the motor industry and general cargo.
Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) took her on to work in tandem with her sister ship on the Mediterranean freight corridor. Her main job is to strengthen the Genoa–Palermo route and the strategic Genoa–Malta axis, acting as a motorway of the sea for trailers and heavy rolling freight. With 1,624 lane metres and room for more than a hundred lorries, she frees up deck space on the passenger cruise ferries and keeps the central Mediterranean supplied. She currently sails under the Portuguese flag (Madeira).
The Elizabeth Russ was built at the J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co yard in Hamburg-Neuenfelde (Germany). Founded in 1635, Sietas was one of Europe's most respected builders of medium-tonnage freight vessels. Its series 163 designs — to which the Elizabeth Russ belongs — stood out for their operating efficiency and their cargo capacity relative to their size, and were taken up by a number of European operators for short- and medium-distance services in the Mediterranean and the North Sea.
Full technical specifications
| Ship type | Ro-Ro (rolling freight) |
| Length overall | 153.4 m |
| Beam | 20.6 m |
| Draught | 6.9 – 7.0 m |
| Gross tonnage (GT) | 10,471 GT |
| Deadweight (DWT) | 7,296 t |
| Service speed | ~20 knots |
| Rolling freight capacity | 1,624 lane metres / 120 semi-trailers |
| Container capacity | 303 TEU (20-foot containers) |
| Hold capacity | 14,599 m³ |
| Propulsion | Wärtsilä (four-stroke) 12V46C engine · 17,136 bhp · single propeller |
| Ship series | Sietas Type 163 (8 vessels) |
| Building shipyard | J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft, Hamburg (yard no. 1186) |
| Year built | 1999 |
| Owner | Ernst Russ AG (Hamburg, Germany) |
| Operator (charter) | GNV – Grandi Navi Veloci (MSC Group) |
| IMO number | 9186429 |
| MMSI | 255805606 |
| Call sign | CQFE |
| Flag | Portugal (Madeira) |
| Classification society | Registro Italiano Navale / Germanischer Lloyd |
| Joined the GNV fleet | 2021 (charter renewed in 2024) |
Routes operated and indicative frequencies
| Route | Type of service | Frequency* |
|---|---|---|
| Genoa → Palermo | Rolling freight (Ro-Ro) | ~3 sailings a week |
| Palermo → Valletta (Malta) | Rolling freight (Ro-Ro) | ~3 calls a week |
| Genoa → Valletta (Malta) | Rolling freight (Ro-Ro) | Combined service via Palermo |
* Indicative frequencies, subject to season, freight demand and operational availability. Check timetables and availability in our search engine.
The Genoa–Palermo–Malta corridor: a strategic Mediterranean artery
The Genoa–Palermo–Valletta route worked by the Elizabeth Russ forms part of the Motorways of the Sea project in the central Mediterranean, a European initiative to shift freight from road to sea and so ease congestion and emissions on Italy's main overland routes.
The Port of Valletta (Malta) is the Maltese archipelago's main logistics hub and one of the busiest transhipment platforms in the central Mediterranean. Malta relies heavily on shipping for its supplies, which makes the Elizabeth Russ a critical piece of infrastructure in the country's supply chain. In the first seven months of 2024, GNV carried more than 137,000 lane metres on this route, 10% up on the previous year.
The Elizabeth Russ takes refrigerated cargo and dangerous goods (ADR), which widens the range of logistics work she can do for exporters and importers on the Italy–Malta corridor.
What sort of freight does the Elizabeth Russ carry?
| Type of freight | Description |
|---|---|
| Semi-trailers and trailers | Up to 120 semi-trailers or the equivalent in rolling freight |
| Containers | Up to 303 TEU (20-foot containers) |
| Refrigerated cargo | Yes, including capacity for refrigerated goods |
| Dangerous goods (ADR) | Yes, with the relevant declarations and paperwork |
| Total freight capacity | 1,624 lane metres of rolling freight |
Frequently asked questions about the Elizabeth Russ
Does the Elizabeth Russ carry passengers?
No. The Elizabeth Russ is a pure rolling freight Ro-Ro vessel, designed solely to carry lorries, semi-trailers and containers. She has no accommodation for fare-paying passengers. If you are looking for a GNV passenger ferry, take a look at the routes covered by the GNV cruise ferry fleet.
Which routes does the Elizabeth Russ operate for GNV?
She works the Genoa–Palermo–Valletta (Malta) route, calling at the Maltese port roughly three times a week. She is one of the two Ro-Ro ships GNV assigns to this corridor, alongside her sister ship Caroline Russ.
How many lane metres of freight does the Elizabeth Russ have?
She offers 1,624 lane metres of rolling freight capacity, which works out at up to 120 semi-trailers or a mix of lorries, trailers and containers.
When was the Elizabeth Russ built?
She was built in 1999 at the J.J. Sietas KG yard in Hamburg-Neuenfelde (Germany), yard number 1186. She belongs to the Sietas Type 163 series, made up of eight sister ships.
Who owns the Elizabeth Russ?
The ship is owned by Ernst Russ AG, a German shipping company based in Hamburg. GNV runs her under a charter agreement, a common arrangement in the Italian operator's freight fleet.
Does the Elizabeth Russ take refrigerated cargo and dangerous goods?
Yes. The Elizabeth Russ takes both refrigerated cargo and dangerous goods (ADR), which makes her a versatile ship for the supply chains of Malta and Sicily.
What are the length and dimensions of the Elizabeth Russ?
She has a length overall of 153.4 metres, a beam of 20.6 metres and a maximum draught of about 7 metres. Her gross tonnage is 10,471 GT and her deadweight 7,296 tonnes.
What is the IMO number of the Elizabeth Russ?
The IMO number of the Elizabeth Russ is 9186429. Her MMSI is 255805606 and her call sign is CQFE. She sails under the Portuguese flag (Madeira).
Does the Elizabeth Russ have sister ships in the GNV fleet?
Yes. Her sister ship in the GNV fleet is the Caroline Russ (IMO 9197533), with which she shares the Genoa–Palermo–Malta route. Both belong to the Sietas Type 163 series and have worked this corridor together since 2021.
How far in advance should I arrange freight loading with GNV?
For rolling freight bookings with GNV it is best to contact the GNV Freight department well in advance, particularly in high season. Check-in at the ports of departure (Genoa) usually opens 2 hours before sailing.
How important is the Genoa–Palermo–Malta route to GNV?
This route is a strategic one for GNV: in the first seven months of 2024 the company carried more than 137,000 lane metres on the Maltese corridor, an annual increase of 10%. GNV holds a 33% market share of shipping to and from Malta, making it the dominant operator in this trade.
ferry Elizabeth Russ · Accommodations
⚠️ Freight vessel: The Elizabeth Russ is a Ro-Ro ferry given over entirely to carrying rolling freight (lorries, semi-trailers and containers). She has no accommodation for fare-paying passengers.
If you are looking to travel as a passenger with GNV, take a look at the GNV passenger ferries, which offer inside and outside cabins, suites, lounges and reclining seats on the Barcelona–Genoa, Genoa–Palermo, Genoa–Tunis and many other routes.
ferry Elizabeth Russ · On-board services
Freight handling on board
The Elizabeth Russ is equipped with everything needed to move rolling freight efficiently around the central Mediterranean. As a pure freight vessel, her facilities are geared entirely to logistics rather than to passenger comfort.
The Italy–Malta corridor: why it matters
Malta, whose economy depends heavily on maritime trade, receives a significant share of its imports of consumer goods, food and industrial materials from Italy and northern Europe via the route worked by the Elizabeth Russ and the Caroline Russ.
- Three calls a week at the Port of Valletta from the ports of Genoa and Palermo.
- 137,000+ lane metres of freight carried in the first 7 months of 2024 (+10% vs 2023).
- 33% market share for GNV in the maritime freight trade with Malta (2024 figures).
- Capacity for refrigerated cargo and ADR goods, meeting the specific needs of the cold chain and special consignments.
- Part of the Motorways of the Sea programme, encouraging the shift of freight from road to sea.
GNV and the rolling freight fleet in the Mediterranean
GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci), part of the MSC Group, is one of the Mediterranean's leading operators in both passenger transport and rolling freight. Founded in Genoa in 1992, it runs a fleet of more than 25 ships on routes linking Italy, Spain, France, Tunisia, Morocco, Albania and Malta. Its CEO, Matteo Catani, has driven an expansion strategy that pairs new LNG cruise ferries (such as the GNV Polaris, GNV Orion, GNV Aurora and GNV Virgo) with chartered Ro-Ro vessels covering the Mediterranean's busiest freight corridors.
GNV has invested more than €100 million in fitting exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) across its fleet, cutting sulphur oxide emissions. Its new LNG ships — which reduce CO₂ by up to 50% per unit of freight — set out the operator's decarbonisation roadmap for 2030.
