Ukraine’s Ministry for Communities and Territories Development has launched a concession tender for the First and Container Terminal assets at the Port of Chornomorsk in Odesa Oblast, offering a 40-year concession to a private investor to modernise and operate key maritime logistics infrastructure.

Chornomorsk Port is one of Ukraine’s key multipurpose seaports on the Black Sea, serving export-import cargo flows as well as transit corridors. Its modernization is of strategic importance for increasing cargo handling capacity, attracting foreign direct investment, and strengthening the competitiveness of Ukraine’s transport network. The upgraded terminal is expected to boost container throughput capacity and enable deeper integration of the port into global supply chains on more favorable terms for exporters and importers. The terminal previously handled up to 50% of the country’s container traffic, or around 540,000 TEU per year.

The concession encompasses existing state-owned assets, which are recorded on the balance sheets of the State Enterprise Chornomorsk Sea Commercial Port and the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority. These include terminal buildings, equipment, engineering networks, and berths 1 to 6 of the universal and grain (container) terminals. The selected concessionaire will receive the right to utilise these assets for 40 years, along with the ability to develop new facilities and obtain any additional property necessary for operations.

Applications for participation in the prequalification phase must be submitted within 75 days from the date the tender notice is published. The procurement will follow a competitive dialogue process, beginning with the prequalification of bidders that have experience in operating large-scale logistics assets, and followed by negotiations with the state to finalise the concession terms. Participation is open to legal entities that satisfy the criteria outlined in the tender documents, including adequate financial strength. Preliminary requirements indicate that bidders should have a minimum of US$50 million in available investment funds and demonstrated expertise in terminal operations.