HISTORY PAGES OF THE PORT

In 1949 the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted a decree which determined the right shore of Sukhoy estuary outlet to be future building site of a closed shipyard and an industrial community for 40 thousand inhabitants. On the basis of the above mentioned decree the District Executive Committee of Ovidiopol, with its decision dated 20 January, 1950, allotted land for building of shipyard № 490 and the industrial community which was given the name of Illichivsk with a decree of the Supreme Soviet of Ukraine on 11 August, 1952.

The history of the Port of Illichivsk began in 1956, when following a rapid development of foreign-trade relations of the USSR and increasing transportation volumes on the initiative of Black Sea Navigation Company (BLASCO) director Alexey Danchenko the construction of port handling facilities in the area of Sukhoy estuary in the south-west of Odessa began.

On 25 October, 1957 the Director of BLASCO issued order № 8/733 «About port construction on Sukhoy estuary». This order formed the basis for creation of all services and departments to bring into effect the operation of an independent transport company, started the preparation of personnel arrangement for the port and provided for transshipment plan for 1958.

In December 1957 – the dredge «Vaygach» cut the sandbank and joined Sukhoy estuary with the sea.

In Summer 1958 the first 336 meters of the waterfront were put in commission and 6 gantry cranes were mounted.

On 5 August, 1958 – the motor vessel «Ukraina» entered into the harborage just at the beginning of its construction and moored to its unique berth. Since then the operation of the future port with its principal activity of cargo handling got under way. The amount of cargo transshipment in 1958 came to 335,000 tons. The bulk cargos as coal and building materials (cement, sand, timber) formed the basis of the transshipment.

So, it is considered to read the time of our port production activity from 5 August, 1958.

The port continued building up and developing. Already in 1960 the turnover of goods came to 2,6 million tons.

The status of independent trade port of I Category and the name of “Illichivsk” was obtained later – on 31 January, 1961.

On 3 June, 1967 due to the turnover increase the port was referred to the port highest category.

Vessels with caoutchouk, jute, tea, parquet, caustic soda, cotton, pepper, pea-nut, footwear, garments and many other goods had been received. Machine-tools, equipment, motor vehicles, construction and agricultural machinery, metal products, mineral fertilizers, coal, ore had been exported.

In 1972 new advanced work techniques and technologies were introduced and the first stage of automated port control system was carried into effect.

In 1976 a container terminal with throughput capacity of 120 thousand TEU p.a. was built.

For major achievements in the development of foreign trade and organization of production the Port was honored with the order of Red Banner of Labour.

In November, 1978 the ferry station Illichivsk-Varna was opened. Four ferry-boats with capacity of 108 railway wagons allowed handling up to 6 million tons of cargos per year.

Year 1980 – the first in the country specific complex for Ro-Ro vessels with horizontal loading-unloading procedure with a quay line 280 m long and a warehouse with capacity of 5000 motor vehicles was put into operation.

Year 1987 – the construction of inter-port repair station for large-capacity containers was concluded.

The Port of Illichivsk, among the first ones in the field, takes up a new system of management — full self-support running and self-financing.

During this period the port turnover achieves 20 million tons p.a.

The refurbishing of berths number 1 and 2, as well as of adjacent areas began in order to create a modern highly mechanized container terminal with throughput capacity of 300 thousand TEU per year.

September, 1995 – its first stage with 2 on-berth and 3 rear container transborders with 45 tons lifting capacity each one was put in operation.

In 1996 the ferry line Illichivsk – Poti was opened. It became a sea part of the Euro-Asian transport corridor (TRACECA).

In November 1997 the Port realized the first investment project, bringing into service the first stage of grain terminal with throughput capacity of 2,5 million tons p.a..

April, 1998 – the construction of cargo terminal for mineral fertilizers with capacity of 1,3 million tons p.a. was concluded, and in 2000 its reconstruction took place and its throughput capacity increased up to 2,5 million tons.

In October, 2000 in the motor transport depot of the port the “Volvo” service center for truck tractors of the same name was opened.

On 30 March, 2001 in the Ferry Terminal a separate area for containers and vehicles was brought into service – it was the first transport project realized in Ukraine at the expense of the European Union according to Тасіs-ТRАСЕCА program. Its construction is the final stage in the creation of the international rail-ferry line Ukraine-Georgia which has become the basic link of the sea part of the Euro-Asian transport corridor.

In December, 2001 an auxiliary 122 meters long moor № 29 for direct transshipping of liquefied natural gas started running.

In January, 2002 the second 3,5 km railway entrance into the port was opened, allowing to increase the 1 Terminal wagon turnover and throughput capacity.

In March, 2002 the construction of fat-and-oil industrial complex, one of the largest in Europe, began.

On 22 August, 2002 the second stage of the grain terminal was put in operation. The cereals throughput of the port exceeded 5 million tons p.a.

On 3 December, 2002 the third railway entrance into the port is opened.

On 6 February, 2003 in the Port of Illichivsk a new container-contrailer train “Viking” started on travel line Illichevsk-Klaipeda. The train opened a new transport corridor which passes through Ukraine, Bielorus and Lithuania and links Black Sea and Baltic ports.

In September, 2003 a “Specialized freight complex” for custom formalities of containerized cargos was opened in the port to hasten the paper work and release of containers out of the port.

In March, 2004 a new transfer terminal – Illichivsk Fuel Terminal – with capacity of 3,23 million tons of petrochemicals p.a. started working in the port of Illichivsk.

In November, 2004 the inauguration of the first stage of the largest factory for tropical oils transportation and processing – Illichivsk Fat-and-Oil Complex – took place.

In June, 2005 the inauguration of a new production line – CC “Illichivsk oil-extraction plant” or sunflower seeds processing and further vegetable oil exportation – took place in Illichivsk.

In June, 2006 the Regulation about rewarding with breastplate “Honorary worker of the Port of Illichivsk” for merits in front of the port was enacted.

May, 2007 – as a result of having carried out a series of arrangements for development of infrastructure the port accommodated a transoceanic container vessel 294,1 m long with capacity of 5034 TEU, opening, in such a way, new regular lines of direct transoceanic service linking ports of South-West Asia and Ukraine.

September, 2007 – the Port of Illichivsk obtained Quality Management System Certificates for adequacy to DSTU ISO 9001-2001 (ISO 9001-2000 IDT).

28 November, 2007 – an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development was signed for obtaining credit against security of Ukrainian Government for development of infrastructure of Sea Commercial Port of Illichivsk.

December, 2007 – the Port achieved the half a million mark in the transshipment of containers and obtained the status of container port Nr.1 of Ukraine.

5 August, 2008 - the Port celebrated the 50 anniversary of its industrial activity.

The port does not stop on reached, it is in constant development. Besides, according to the program of development accepted in 2009 (the Decree of the Ministry of transport and communications of Ukraine from 03.04.2009 №367 confirm the program of development of SE «Sea Commercial Port of Illichivsk») it is planned till 2015:

- Updating and increase of capacities of port to 54,1 million tons, concerning available and perspective requirements of development of goods traffics. A reshaping and reconstruction of terminals of port and building of new modern port cargo complexes according with the requirements of market;

• Realization of transit possibilities of the country, particularly development of international container and others intermodal transportations;

• Creation of capacities for a highly effective overload of transit and export – import bulk cargoes which occupy and will take the important place among goods traffics through the ports of Ukraine;

• Creation of favorable conditions for the Ukrainian exporters of metal products. The increase of competitiveness not only of the product, but also of its transportation to buyers;

• Reconstruction and development of automobile entrances.