The Port of Mykolayiv (also spelled Nikolaev) lies on the estuary of the Buh River about 65 kilometers north of the Black Sea in southern Ukraine. It is one of the busiest Black Sea ports and one of the biggest ship-building centers in the Ukraine.
Port History
The Port of Mykolayiv was founded as a shipyard near the site of the ancient Greek Olbia in 1788 after Russia annexed the Black Sea coast. In the early 19th Century, the Port of Mykolayiv was a large Jewish center in the Russian Empire. In fact, the seventh leader in the Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty was born here.
Built for repair of Russian Navy ships during the Russo-Turkish War, it was opened as a commercial harbor in 1862. The railroad came to town in 1873. The Russian military governor renamed the city Nikolay to commemorate a Russia’s victory over the Turkish fortress of Achikale (Ochakov). Well-planned from its beginnings, it contains wide streets and many beautiful parks. The center city lies on the peninsula formed by the Ingu and Southern Bug rivers estuary.
A military governor administered the Port of Mykolayiv until 1900. The port’s history is Nikolaev’s history: the port’s first shipyard is one year older than the city. Russian citizens, including soldiers and craftsmen, were moved there. Russia’s Black Sea navy headquarters were located here for over 100 years until the headquarters were moved to Sevastopol. The Port of Mykolayiv was so important to Russian military operations that it was closed to foreign visitors through the late 1980s.
Today, the Port of Mykolayiv is a large ship-building center and one of Ukraine’s most important seaports, serving the vast steppe grain lands and the inland city of Kryvvy Rih. About 500 thousand people live in the Port of Mykolayiv. Although the official language is Ukrainian, many residents also speak Russian and English.
Port Commerce
The Port of Mykolayiv celebrated its 140th birthday in 2002. The port is vital to Ukrainian trade, and it contains all the facilities, equipment, and capacity for handing the full array of cargoes. An important part of the port’s industry is ship repair.
In 2003, over 4.2 million tons of cargo passed through the Port of Mykolayiv, including 1.2 million tons of exports and 1.2 million tons of imports. Cargo types included fertilizers, grains, scrap metal and metal, and containers. Other major cargo categories are pipes, coal and ores, rolled briquettes, clay, foods, and lumber.
Cruising and Travel
Closed to foreigners until late in the 20th Century, the Port of Mykolayiv is not a well-known tourist destination. However, it has some points of interest that visitors will enjoy. Mykolayiv has one of the biggest zoos in Ukraine. It also boasts an astronomical observatory and the Museum of Shipbuilding and Fleet and a Museum of Arts. Visitors will enjoy performances at either the Ukrainian or Russian theater. Nikolaev houses Lutheran, Catholic, and Russian Orthodox Churches as well as a Ukranian Orthodox Synagogue. The ancient Greek settlement of Olbio is just 30 kilometers from the Port of Mykolayiv. For some nighttime entertainment or shopping, visitors can try out the Sovietskaya (Nikolaev’s main pedestrian street).
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