Ports Of Ukraine [MAP]

Ports of Ukraine

Here’s a list of the major Ukrainian ports with brief descriptions of their geography and economic value:

Odessa

• Location: Northwestern Black Sea coast
• Features: Largest seaport in Ukraine, ice-free year-round
• Economic value: Major hub for grain exports, container shipping, and passenger traffic

Mariupol

• Location: North coast of Sea of Azov
• Features: Deep-water port, ice-free most of the year
• Economic value: Key export point for steel, coal, and grain from eastern Ukraine

Kherson

• Location: Dnieper River delta, 15 km from Black Sea
• Features: River and sea port
• Economic value: Shipbuilding industry, grain exports

Mykolaiv (Nikolaev)

• Location: Southern Bug River, 65 km from Black Sea
• Features: River and sea port
• Economic value: Shipbuilding, grain exports

Yuzhny

• Location: 40 km east of Odessa on Black Sea coast
• Features: Deepest port in Ukraine (21 m)
• Economic value: Bulk cargo handling, especially ore and grain

Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi (Belgorod-Dnestrovsky)

• Location: Dniester Estuary, southwestern Ukraine
• Features: Sea and river port
• Economic value: Fishing industry, some cargo handling

Ust-Dunaysk

• Location: Danube Delta, southwestern Ukraine
• Features: River port with access to Black Sea
• Economic value: Danube River shipping, limited sea access

Izmail

• Location: Danube River, southwestern Ukraine
• Features: Largest Ukrainian port on Danube
• Economic value: River shipping, connection to European inland waterways

Reni

• Location: Danube River, southwestern Ukraine
• Features: River port with year-round navigation
• Economic value: Multimodal transport hub (river, sea, road, rail)

Berdyansk

• Location: North coast of Sea of Azov
• Features: Sea port
• Economic value: Grain exports, fishing industry

Kerch

• Location: Eastern tip of Crimean Peninsula
• Features: Sea port on Kerch Strait
• Economic value: Ferry connection to Russia, fishing industry

Sevastopol

• Location: Southwestern Crimean Peninsula
• Features: Deep-water bay on Black Sea
• Economic value: Naval base, some commercial shipping

The status of Crimean ports (Kerch and Sevastopol) is disputed due to the 2014 annexation by Russia.

Black Sea Grain Initiative

Implemented to support global markets and prevent famine, the Black Sea Grain initiative enabled commercial food and fertilizer exports from three Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea. This initiative, signed in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 27 July under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), provided a beacon of hope amid ongoing conflicts. The resumption of Ukrainian grain exports served as an essential step towards stabilizing spiraling food prices worldwide.

The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) was established to oversee the implementation of this initiative. Headquartered in Istanbul, it comprised representatives from Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the UN. Additionally, the UN acted as its Secretariat. Ukrainian vessels guided cargo ships into international waters of the Black Sea while avoiding mined areas. From there, they proceeded along an agreed maritime humanitarian corridor towards Istanbul.

To ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations, JCC teams consisting of Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, and UN inspectors inspected ships traveling to and from the Ukrainian ports. By facilitating these inspections and overseeing safe transportation routes for grain shipments through this initiative, potential risks were mitigated.

The Black Sea Grain initiative played a crucial role not only by supporting global markets but also by addressing concerns regarding food security that could lead to widespread famine. As such, it served as a significant step towards providing stability amidst turbulent times globally.