UN/LOCODE: UAILK📍 Ukraine
Port of Illichivs'k (UN/LOCODE UAILK)
❖ Coordinates: 46.3000°N, 30.6700°E
❖ Time Zone: Europe/Kiev
❖ UN/LOCODE: UAILK
## About the Port
Illichivs'k (UN/LOCODE: **UAILK**) is a strategically positioned maritime hub on Ukraine’s Black Sea coastline, located within Odeska oblast. The port’s coordinates (46.3° N, 30.67° E) place it approximately 30 km west of the city of Odesa and 80 km east of the Romanian border, giving it direct access to the deepest sea lanes of the western Black Sea. Its timezone (Europe/Kiev) aligns with major European trading partners, facilitating 24‑hour coordination with shipping agents, customs brokers, and logistics providers. The port serves as a multi‑modal node, handling containerized cargo, bulk commodities, and project freight, and it plays a pivotal role in Ukraine’s efforts to diversify export routes following geopolitical disruptions.
### Name and UN/LOCODE
The official designation “Illichivs'k” derives from the historic city of Illichivs'k (now part of the greater Odesa metropolitan area). The UN/LOCODE **UAILK** is listed in the United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations database, ensuring universal recognition in bill‑of‑ladings, electronic data interchange (EDI), and maritime electronic freight books (e‑Freight). Accurate use of this code is essential for freight forwarders, insurers, and port authorities to guarantee seamless data exchange across global shipping ecosystems.
### Location and Coordinates
Illichivs'k sits on the southern shore of the Dnieper estuary, benefitting from a natural deep‑water basin that reaches depths of up to 14 m at the outer breakwater. The port’s entrance channel is dredged to 16 m, accommodating Panamax and New‑Panamax vessels. Its proximity to major railway junctions (Odesa–Kherson line) and highway corridors (M14, E105) provides integrated land‑bridge connectivity to inland European markets.
### Timezone
Operating on **Europe/Kiev** (UTC +2, UTC +3 in summer) enables synchronous scheduling with European ports such as Constanţa, Varna, and Istanbul, as well as with inland hubs in Central and Eastern Europe. This alignment supports real‑time vessel‑arrival information exchange in platforms like MarineTraffic and PortVision.
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## History
The roots of Illichivs'k trace back to the Soviet era when it was developed as a fishing and cargo harbor serving collective farms along the Dnieper. Post‑independence, the Ukrainian government modernised the facility in the early 2000s, upgrading the quay wall to 350 m and installing a 4 000‑TEU container berth. The 2014 geopolitical upheaval prompted a rapid pivot toward EU‑compatible customs procedures and the adoption of the “Digital Port” initiative, which introduced electronic cargo manifests and automated gate systems. Continuous capital investment from both state and private entities has kept the port competitive with regional peers, positioning it as a critical alternative to congested Black Sea terminals in Romania and Bulgaria.
### Development Milestones
- 2002: Completion of the first reinforced concrete quay.
- 2008: Installation of three ship‑to‑shore gantry cranes with a 45‑ton lifting capacity.
- 2015: Launch of the “Smart Port” platform integrating cargo tracking via RFID.
- 2021: Expansion of the liquid bulk terminal to handle 1 million t/yr of refined petroleum products.
These milestones underscore a trajectory of incremental growth driven by strategic infrastructure upgrades and a focus on regulatory harmonisation with EU standards.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Terminals and Docking Facilities
Illichivs'k comprises two primary container terminals: **Terminal A** (800 m quay length, 150 m depth) and **Terminal B** (500 m quay length, 140 m depth). Both terminals are equipped with double‑stack rail‑mounted gantry cranes capable of handling 20‑ft and 40‑ft containers at a rate of up to 30 lifts per hour per crane. Dedicated bulk handling berths support vessel drafts of up to 14 m, enabling simultaneous loading of grain, coal, and ferro‑alloys.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
The port operates a fleet of 24 reach‑stackers, 18 RTGs (Rubber‑Tyred Gantry cranes), and 6 conveyor‑based aggregate transfer systems. Advanced remote‑monitoring sensors feed real‑time equipment performance data into the Integrated Logistics Management System (ILMS), reducing idle time by 12 % and improving berth utilisation to 85 % during peak seasons.
### Storage and Warehousing
Covered storage facilities span 45 000 m² and feature climate‑controlled zones for perishable goods. Dry bulk warehouses, equipped with high‑capacity silos for cement and gypsum, are linked to the port via dedicated rail spurs. The port also maintains a 150 000 m³ liquid storage area with secondary containment, meeting stringent EU environmental directives.
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## Economic Importance
### Role in Ukraine’s Black Sea Trade
Illichivs'k contributes roughly 12 % of Ukraine’s total seaborne cargo throughput, handling an average of 8 million t annually. Its strategic placement on the western Black Sea provides an alternate export corridor for Ukrainian grain, sunflower oil, and metallic ores, reducing reliance on congested ports such as Chornomorsk and restarting maritime connections to Mediterranean hubs.
### Contribution to Odeska Oblast Economy
The port directly employs over 1 200 workers and supports an additional 3 500 jobs in ancillary industries—logistics, ship‑chandlering, and customs brokerage. Fiscal analyses indicate that port‑related activities generate approximately €150 million in annual tax revenues for Odeska oblast, reinforcing regional development objectives outlined in Ukraine’s “National Maritime Strategy 2030”.
### Connectivity to Hinterland
Through the Odesa‑Kherson railway corridor, Illichivs'k links to major inland distribution nodes in Kyiv, Lviv, and the Carpathian Basin. This multimodal integration shortens door‑to‑door transit times for containerised cargo heading to Central Europe to an average of 5–7 days, enhancing its attractiveness for just‑in‑time (JIT) supply chain strategies.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Principal Trade Corridors
Illichivs'k is a pivotal node in several maritime corridors:
- **Black Sea–Mediterranean**: Regular vessel calls to Constanţa (Romania), Varna (Bulgaria), and Istanbul (Turkey).
- **Black Sea–North Sea**: Seasonal bulk carriers transport Ukrainian grain to Dutch and German ports via the Suez Canal.
- **Black Sea–Baltic**: Seasonal ice‑breaker‑assisted routes connect to Polish and Lithuanian terminals during the summer navigation window.
These corridors are facilitated by partnerships with global shipping lines such as MSC, Maersk, and CMA CGM, as well as regional carriers operating under the “Black Sea Line” consortium.
### Dominant Cargo Types
- **Agricultural Products**: Wheat, barley, corn, and sunflower oil constitute 45 % of throughput.
- **Bulk Commodities**: Coal, ferro‑alloys, and mineral fertilizers account for 30 % of cargo volume.
- **Containerised Goods**: The port handles 1 million TEU annually, with a focus on manufacturing inputs (automotive parts, machinery) and consumer electronics destined for Central European markets.
- **Energy Resources**: Refined petroleum products and liquified natural gas (LNG) cargoes are increasingly processed at the terminal’s dedicated tanker berths, reflecting Ukraine’s diversification of energy supply routes.
### Seasonal Variations and Seasonal Throughput
Peak navigation runs from March to November, with August‑September representing the highest berth utilisation (averaging 92 %). During winter months, ice formation can restrict draft capacity, prompting operators to shift to deeper‑draft vessels or to temporarily reroute cargo via Constanta. Understanding these seasonal dynamics is essential for shippers planning inventory buffers and for investors evaluating revenue elasticity.
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## Outlook
Future development plans for Illichivs'k include the construction of a 600‑meter deep‑water berth capable of handling ultra‑large container vessels (ULCVs) up to 24 000 TEU, slated for completion by 2028. Additionally, a green‑hydrogen pilot project is slated to provide low‑carbon fuel for bunkering operations, aligning with EU decarbonisation targets. These initiatives position Illichivs'k not only as a resilient logistics gateway but also as a forward‑looking champion of sustainable maritime trade in the Black Sea region.
*For official UN/LOCODE documentation, refer to the UN/LOCODE database: https://www.unlocode.org/.*
*Further insights into port operations can be accessed via the Port of Illichivs'k official portal: https://illichivskport.gov.ua.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
UAILK
Country
Ukraine
Province / Region
Odeska oblast
Latitude
46.300000
Longitude
30.670000
Timezone
Europe/Kiev
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Illichivs'k?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Illichivs'k is UAILK.
Where is Port of Illichivs'k located?
The Port of Illichivs'k is located in Ukraine, Odeska oblast. Its coordinates are 46.3000°N, 30.6700°E.
What time zone is Port of Illichivs'k in?
Port of Illichivs'k operates in the Europe/Kiev 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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