Odesa Region is Ukraine’s largest maritime hub, hosting key ports engaged in international trade, humanitarian corridors, and export operations. Despite ongoing security challenges, several facilities remain operational under international oversight and in coordination with military authorities.
Ports of Odesa Region
Odesa Commercial Sea Port
Overview:
The largest universal port in Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast. Handles a wide range of cargo — containers, grain, metals, oil products — and features a passenger terminal.
⚠️ Partially operational within grain and humanitarian corridors. Subject to periodic shelling. Vessel calls require special permits and insurance cover.
Current status:
Key P&I risks:
Cargo damage, crew injury, berthing/maneuvering collisions, delays due to inspections and restricted accessodessa-port.
Port of Pivdennyi (Yuzhny)
Overview:
Deep-water, specialized port equipped for large-tonnage vessels and liquid cargo tankers. Main cargoes include ammonia, oil, coal, and grain.
🟡 Operational within a restricted maritime corridor. All calls require prior approval. Potential for delays during clearance and inspections.
Current status:
Key P&I risks:
Water pollution during liquid cargo handling, technical incidents during loading/discharge, inspector access limitations, infrastructure overload during peak operationsyuzhny-port.
Port of Chornomorsk (Illichivsk)
Overview:
A multimodal hub handling containers, ferries, and metals, serving both domestic and international routes.
🟡 Limited operations; primarily used in combination with road and rail transport. Vessel calls allowed only with special permits.
Current status:
Key P&I risks:
Cargo damage, transshipment-related risks, inspection delays, heightened safety requirementschornomorsk-port.
Reni Sea Port
Overview:
Located on the Danube River at the Romanian border, serving both river and sea-going vessels. Main cargoes include grain, metals, and general cargo.
🟢 Fully operational, with significantly increased activity due to limited access to sea ports. Key link in the Danube export corridor.
Current status:
Key P&I risks:
Crew repatriation in emergencies, sanitary incidents and inspections, navigation collisions on congested routesreni-port.
Izmail Sea Port
Overview:
The largest Ukrainian port on the Danube River, handling bulk, general, and grain cargoes.
🟢 Fully operational and leading in export volumes since 2023. Handles substantial agricultural exports.
Current status:
Key P&I risks:
Water pollution, crew-related claims (wages, working conditions), Port State Control inspectionsizmail-port.
Ust-Dunaisk Port (Vylkove)
Overview:
Small port in the Danube Delta focused on regional and cabotage shipping. Handles small-batch containers and shallow-draft vessels.
🟢 Operational, mainly for low-tonnage operations. Strategic importance has grown with restricted access to major sea ports.
Current status:
Key P&I risks:
Navigational incidents in narrow channels, delays due to limited capacity, pressure on local infrastructureust-dunay-port.