UN/LOCODE: TRTZX📍 Turkey
Port of Trabzon (UN/LOCODE TRTZX)
❖ Coordinates: 41.0027°N, 39.7168°E
❖ Time Zone: Europe/Istanbul
❖ UN/LOCODE: TRTZX
## About the Port
### Location and Geography
The Port of Trabzon (UN/LOCODE: **TRTZX**) lies on the southeastern coast of the Black Sea in Turkey’s Trabzon Province, at latitude **41.0026969° N** and longitude **39.7167633° E**. Sheltered by the rugged Pontic Mountains to the south and a natural anchorage formed by the confluence of the Karadeniz and Zağnos rivers, the port benefits from deep‑water access (approximately 12 m charted depth at the main quay) and relatively calm sea conditions compared with more exposed Black Sea harbours. Its position places it roughly 1,050 km northeast of Istanbul and 350 km west of the Georgian border, making it a strategic gateway for trade between Turkey, the Caucasus, and the broader Black Sea basin.
### Operational Status
Administered by the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) under the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, Trabzon functions as a **multipurpose commercial port** handling containerized, bulk, ro‑ro, and general cargo. The port operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with pilotage and tug services available year‑round. Modern Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) radar coverage and AIS monitoring ensure safe navigation within the confined anchorage.
## History
### Early Maritime Activity
Archaeological evidence indicates that the natural harbour of Trabzon was used as early as the **Hellenistic period** (4th–3rd century BC) by Greek colonists from Miletus, who established the settlement of **Trapezus**. The port’s significance grew during the Roman and Byzantine eras, serving as a key node on the **Silk Road’s northern branch** linking Anatolia with the Black Sea steppes.
### Ottoman and Republican Periods
Under the Ottoman Empire, Trabzon’s harbour was fortified and expanded to support the empire’s Black Sea fleet and grain exports from the inland Anatolian plateau. The construction of a **stone breakwater** in the late 19th century improved berth safety, allowing larger sailing vessels to dock. Following the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923, the port was integrated into the national railway network, facilitating the transfer of agricultural products (notably hazelnuts and tea) from the surrounding provinces to domestic and international markets.
### Modernisation Era
A major modernization programme launched in the **1990s** introduced concrete quay walls, specialized cargo handling equipment, and a dedicated container yard. In 2004, the port received ISO 9001 certification for its operational management system, and in 2018 it adopted the **Port Community System (PCS)** to streamline customs clearance, documentation, and stakeholder communication. Recent investments (2021‑2023) have focused on expanding the **ro‑ro ramp capacity** and installing shore‑power facilities to reduce vessel emissions while at berth.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Quay and Berth Layout
The port comprises **four main berths** totaling approximately **850 m of lineal quay**:
- **Berth 1 (General Cargo)** – 200 m length, 12 m depth, equipped with two 30‑tonne cranes.
- **Berth 2 (Container & Ro‑Ro)** – 250 m length, 13 m depth, featuring a 40‑tonne gantry crane and a 150‑meter ro‑ro ramp.
- **Berth 3 (Bulk & Liquid)** – 200 m length, 14 m depth, with conveyor systems for grain, coal, and mineral bulk, plus two 15‑meter loading arms for liquid cargo (e.g., vegetable oils).
- **Berth 4 (Specialized & Project Cargo)** – 200 m length, 12 m depth, reinforced for heavy‑lift and project cargo operations, with a 50‑tonne mobile harbour crane.
### Storage and Handling
- **Open storage**: 150,000 m² for bulk and general cargo.
- **Covered warehouses**: 30,000 m², climate‑controlled for sensitive goods (e.g., tea, pharmaceuticals).
- **Container yard**: 12,000 m², accommodating up to 800 TEUs with reefer plugs.
- **Ro‑Ro lane**: 250 m paved lane with a maximum axle load of 30 tonnes, serving trucks and trailers bound for Georgia, Russia, and Romania.
### Ancillary Services
The port provides **pilotage, tugboat (two 30‑tonne ASD tugs), mooring, bunkering (marine gas oil and low‑sulfur fuel oil), fresh water, and waste reception** facilities compliant with MARPOL Annex V. Customs clearance is conducted via the Turkish Customs and Trade Ministry’s **e‑Customs portal**, integrated with the port’s PCS for real‑time data exchange.
## Economic Importance
### Regional Trade Hub
Trabzon handles roughly **4.5 million tonnes of cargo annually** (2023 figure), making it the **third‑largest Black Sea port in Turkey** after İstanbul‑Haydarpaşa and Samsun. The port’s hinterland encompasses the productive agricultural zones of Trabzon, Giresun, Ordu, and Rize, which together generate over **70 % of Turkey’s hazelnut output** and a significant share of its tea and tobacco production. Consequently, the port is a vital export conduit for these high‑value commodities.
### Employment and Ancillary Industries
Direct port employment stands at approximately **650 personnel**, while indirect jobs in logistics, warehousing, freight forwarding, and related services exceed **2,500**. The presence of the port has stimulated the growth of **marine‑service clusters**, including ship repair yards, marine surveyors, and bunkering suppliers, contributing to the regional GDP.
### Strategic and Economic Indicators
- **Port productivity**: average crane moves per hour – 22 containers (BERTH 2) and 150 tonnes per hour for bulk handling.
- **Vessel calls**: ~1,200 commercial vessels per year, with a growing share of **ro‑ro ferries** linking Trabzon to **Batumi (Georgia)** and **Constanta (Romania)**.RO)**.
- **Revenue**: estimated annual port authority revenue of **US $28 million**, reinvested into infrastructure upgrades and environmental initiatives.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Principal Trade Lanes
Trabzon’s maritime connectivity radiates along three primary axes:
1. **Black Sea Intra‑regional Route** – regular feeder services to **Samsun, İstanbul, Constanta, Varna, and Odessa**, facilitating the exchange of raw materials, agricultural products, and manufactured goods.
2. **Caucasus Corridor** – ro‑ro and container links to **Batumi and Poti (Georgia)**, enabling transit of Turkish goods to the **South Caucasus** and onward to Central Asia via the **Baku‑Tbilisi‑Kars railway**.
3. **Mediterranean‑Black Sea Transshipment** – occasional direct calls from **Mediterranean hubs** (e.g., Valencia, Piraeus) for project cargo and specialized loads destined for inland Anatolian projects.
### Major Cargo Types
| Cargo Category | Share of Total Tonnage (2023) | Key Commodities | Typical Vessel Types |
|----------------|------------------------------|----------------|----------------------|
| **Agricultural Bulk** | 38 % | Hazelnuts, tea leaves, tobacco, wheat | Bulk carriers, general cargo ships |
| **Containerized Goods** | 22 % | Consumer electronics, textiles, machinery parts | Container ships (feeder size, 800‑1,200 TEU) |
| **Ro‑Ro / Automotive** | 18 % | Trucks, trailers, agricultural vehicles, project modules | Ro‑ro ferries, PCTC (pure car/truck carriers) |
| **Liquid Bulk** | 12 % | Vegetable oils (sunflower, hazelnut), chemicals | Tankers, chemical carriers |
| **General & Project Cargo** | 10 % | Steel plates, construction equipment, wind turbine components | Multipurpose vessels, heavy‑lift ships |
### Seasonal and Market Trends
- **Hazelnut export peaks** from August to October, coinciding with the harvest season in the Eastern Black Sea region; the port dedicates additional berth space and conveyor capacity during this period.
- **Tea shipments** show a steady year‑round flow, with increased volumes during the first quarter due to domestic demand and regional distribution.
- **Project cargo** (e.g., energy infrastructure components) has risen following Turkey’s Black Sea offshore wind initiatives, prompting investments in heavy‑lift equipment and reinforced quay patches.
### Connectivity to Hinterland
Rail links via the **Trabzon–Zonguldak line** provide direct access to the interior Anatolian market, while the **D010 highway** connects the port to the **Trans-European Transport Network (TETRA)** corridors leading toward Istanbul and beyond. Trucking remains the dominant mode for last‑mile delivery, with average dwell times for import containers under **12 hours**, reflecting efficient customs and terminal operations.
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*For further technical details, consult the World Port Source entry on Trabzon* (World Port Source – Trabzon↗) *and the UN/LOCODE listing for TRTZX* (UN/LOCODE TRTZX↗).
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
TRTZX
Country
Turkey
Province / Region
Trabzon
Latitude
41.002697
Longitude
39.716763
Timezone
Europe/Istanbul
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Trabzon?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Trabzon is TRTZX.
Where is Port of Trabzon located?
The Port of Trabzon is located in Turkey, Trabzon. Its coordinates are 41.0027°N, 39.7168°E.
What time zone is Port of Trabzon in?
Port of Trabzon operates in the Europe/Istanbul time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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