Top 10 largest seaports in Russia

Russian sea routes have long been considered promising trade channels. First, ships with grain and provisions traveled through them, then they changed to liners with passengers and tourists, after that, ships with coal and timber industry went through the same channels, and, finally, tankers with oil.

The country’s economy is largely based on profits from cargo transportation. And the largest seaports of Russia play a big role here, let’s consider the top 10 of them.

10 Murmansk. Throughput 24647,2 thousand tons per year

Sea port in Murmansk rightly called northern gate of the country. In fact, this is the most extreme port, which is located beyond the Arctic Circle and does not freeze. Moreover, it is here that the fleet of nuclear submarines is located. In 1933, the Chelyuskinets icebreaker began its voyage from this port.

The very history of the city is closely connected with the port located in it. In 1917, the port of Romanov-on-Murman received the status of a city and acquired its name “Murmansk”. It is logical that the “marine way of life” could not but affect the population of the city: most of the inhabitants are involved in the work at the port.

9. Find. Throughput 26 thousand tons per year

The most important for Russia Nakhodka port is of such importance not only because of trading purposes: it is the largest node in the Pacific Ocean, which includes oil terminals.

Merchant navigation has been practiced on the shores of the bay since ancient times. Back in the 19th century, a convenient harbor and pier were built here so that ships could load without problems. By the 20th century, a passenger shipping line was operating, on which regular flights were carried out.

In the mid-40s, the Soviet government decided to build a large port in Nakhodka. It was built by the forces of prisoners from the Gulag and other transit camps. Through Nakhodka, these people then went into exile in Magadan.

8. Tuapse. Throughput 37 thousand tons per year

The largest and busiest harbor on the Black Sea belongs to the city of Tuapse. There are 3 berths within 19 kilometers, where vessels with vegetables and grain, as well as passenger ships from more than 30 countries of the world, moor daily.

Tuapse port is considered a city-forming enterprise and a central object for the economy of the entire region. It is curious that the port is not only of industrial importance, but is also a tourist attraction.

And all thanks to the control tower at a height of 70 meters above the ground. It is made in the form of a glass ball on a monolithic pin, for which it received the affectionate name “chupa-chups“. The fragility of this tower is deceptive: it is designed to withstand an earthquake of up to magnitude 9.

7. Kaliningrad. Throughput 44 thousand tons per year

The only port on the Baltic Sea that does not freeze is located in the city Kaliningrad. It can also be called one of the oldest, because the first mention of the sea gate at the Königsberg castle dates back to the 14th century.

Already by the 17th century, the authorities decided to lay a dam here for the convenience of navigation. The first steamboat moored in Königsberg in the 19th century.

From the very beginning of its foundation, the port played an important role in relations between Germany and Russia. A huge amount of Russian goods went abroad through it – from grain and flax to legumes. There were so many deliveries that additional granary warehouses and a mill had to be built on the port territory.

After heavy destruction during the war, the port was quickly restored and became one of the first enterprises in the city that began to function.

6. Oriental. Throughput 66 thousand tons per year

One of the youngest ports in our ranking is “Oriental“- was opened in 1973. The enterprise was built in record time: design work was announced in 1968. The construction was called a priority and they threw all their efforts into it, for the convenience of the workers they even built a small satellite town.

Work on the port continues to this day. So, the first stage of the coal terminal started operating in 1978, the second – 20 years later, and the third stage was commissioned quite recently – in September 2019.

5. Seaside. Throughput 89 thousand tons per year

The decision to build a portPrimorskywas adopted at the end of the 20th century. Then the authorities drew attention to the fact that the capacities of the Baltic ports were not enough.

In addition, the “gates” in Kaliningrad had no connection with the country by land and were thus separate. This situation forced other countries to pay for the use of their territories and ports. In 1993, it was decided to build three new ports – Primorsky became one of them.

According to the plan, it was made oil-loading, following the example of the largest port of the times of the USSR in Latvia. The first stage was commissioned in the early 2000s. Now the number of berths where tankers can moor has increased to 4.

4. Saint Petersburg. Throughput 110 thousand tons per year

The largest Russian port in St. Petersburg in fact, it consists of two: the first is engaged in merchant shipping, and the second – in passengers. It stretches over the Neva delta in the east of the Gulf of Finland.

The port is distinguished by a huge number of berths, explainable for its impressive size – trading, timber, fish, ship repair, oil terminal and others. All of them are united by a complex system of channels.

3. Ust-Luga. Throughput 129 thousand tons per year

The Gulf of Finland is rich in Russian ports, and Ust-Luga more proof of that. Its history began in the 16th century, when Russia realized the lack of its own gates on the Baltic Sea.

The first Russian port on the shores of the Baltic was built by order of Ivan the Terrible. The most important task was implemented in the shortest possible time – in three months. After that, a revolution began in the trading system – the tsar forbade merchants to sell goods in Reval or Narva, noting that they should communicate with the Germans “on your own land.” But the prototype of the first port did not exist for a long time – the defeat in the Livonian War took the Baltic lands from Russia.

The port was rebuilt here only in the 30s of the 20th century, but again not the first time – the war destroyed the enterprise, and they were able to complete the construction only after it was completed.

2. Gelendzhik. Throughput 185 thousand tons per year

Resort Gelendzhik left its mark on its own seaport. The moorings are popular in summer because of boat trips, which are incredibly popular among tourists. The excursion program includes a meeting with dolphins.

During the rest of the year, the port is focused on fulfilling orders for cargo ships. Passenger ships also call at the harbor, but Gelendzhik does not receive international flights, which are rerouted to Tuapse.

1. Novorossiysk. Throughput 208 thousand tons per year

Port of Novorossiysk – a record holder in many respects. Firstly, it is here that the longest pier line is located at 8 kilometers. Secondly, it is the largest port on the Black Sea and in the entire Krasnodar Territory.

And, thirdly, the importance of these Russian gates, which are located at the intersection of the central transport channels connecting the country with the Middle East, America, Africa and the Mediterranean, can hardly be overestimated.