The Port of Batumi is know world-wide for its high quality cargo handling, superb facilities for ocean-going vessels, versatility of services and excellent security.

Port Director Jambul Ninidze is a widely recognized industry leader and supervises plans, seen above, for port expansion which will bring its total capacity to 27 million tons.

Batumi Port Management has been the recipient of many awards for quality, for implementing new technologies and for providing excellent service to the shipping industry.

Among the Port facilities are oil and cargo terminals, a modern ferry bridge and a variety of multi-purpose capabilities including a state-of-the art container terminal.

The Port of Batumi is a major link in international sea transport. Its services and facilities have expanded rapidly over the past few years bringing it to world class standards and allowing the total tonnage carried through the Port to rise exponentially.

Expansion and improvement have been hallmarks of the Batumi Port since its founding in 1878 upon an Order from the Emperor of Russia, ruling monarch of the region. For the next several years, until 1885, under its status as a “free port”, also by imperial decree, growth was rapid. At the end of 1884 George Alkovich, an engineer, and Admiral Greve, the first Head of Batumi Port, developed a plan which resulted in significant further development. From that time the Port has been characterized by continuous upgrading and by the development of new capability.

The first oil exports out of Batumi commenced in 1883 and, from a modest beginning, oil became a crucial factor in the development of the Port. The role of petroleum transportation was significantly increased with the construction of the important rail line from Baku, Azerbaijan to Batumi and by the end of the 19th Century nearly 20 oil shipping companies were operating out of Batumi.

On August 23, 1899 a tanker loaded in Batumi crossed the Suez Canal for the first time. This marked the beginning of international recognition of Batumi Port.

By the turn of the century two large oil piers had been built in the Port and this was followed by construction of five additional piers for tankers and for dry loading of other shipping vessels.

In 1923 Batumi Port was officially recognized as one of the globe’s first class ports and by 1967 the Port has been able to receive high tonnage vessels on a regular basis.

Its key role in shipping oil from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to the West has transformed the Port into an essential part of the Eurasian transport corridor, and Batumi is recognized as a major hub in global transport. Membership of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara at the Assembly of European Regions has assisted the in its efforts toward being integrated into European commerce and institutions.

The Port of Batumi is closely connected will all seafaring countries of the world. Vessels know they can easily obtain fuel, water, security and all required services when calling at the Port.

Facilities include an oil terminal, cargo terminal, passenger terminal, ferry-bridge, and a multi-purpose container terminal.

Turnover of the oil terminal is 15 million tons, the cargo terminal can handle 2.5 million tons and the ferry-bridge passes 4 million tons. A newly constructed container terminal will serve six million tons. With completion of work in progress the total capacity of Batumi Port will exceed 27 million tons.

The completely automated ferry bridge, which is designed to move railroad cars from land tracks onto sea going vessels, has three docks, with a total loading capacity 12,600 tons.

These railway-ferry boats ply Black Sea ports from Batumi, with destinations in Turkey, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Russia.

The Port is equipped with 18 high-capacity portal cranes manufactured by the world’s leading companies. Other high capacity off-loading machinery includes loaders, dressers and state-of-the-art handling equipment..

In 2001 and 2002 Batumi Port was been recognized as the best performing company in Georgia in the Annual Business Awards Competition. In this competition the Port also received recognition for its implementation of new technologies. Other recent awards include the international Certificate for quality issued by “Bureau Veritas Quality International” of France, the “ARCO EUROPA” award for good service from Spain and the Platinum Prize for World Quality Commitment, awarded in May, 2002, in France.