Security and Development of the Ports of Greater Odesa and the Danube Discussed

The Odesa Regional Military Administration (ORMA) held a working meeting with port operators of Greater Odesa and the Danube ports, confirming their commitment to further cooperation to ensure the stable functioning of the port sector during wartime.

Participants emphasized that Odesa’s maritime and port complex remains a key driver of the regional economy, providing over 50,000 jobs, generating significant tax revenues, and continuing active infrastructure investment.

Key issues discussed:

-         safety of workers and critical port facilities,

-         enhancing defense capabilities of coastal zones and water areas,

-         restoration of damaged infrastructure,

-         mechanisms for insurance and staff reservation,

-         improving tariff policy to strengthen port competitiveness.

ORMA and Stella Maris Ukraine also presented the concept of a “Port Safety Center” — a humanitarian hub for crisis coordination and cooperation with international partners.

Analytical Commentary by the Institute of Danube Research:

The ports of Greater Odesa and Ukraine’s Danube cluster remain essential to the country’s economic resilience, especially under ongoing military aggression. The rapid rise of Reni, Izmail and Ust-Dunaisk since 2022 has reshaped the logistics landscape of the Black Sea and Lower Danube.

The creation of a Port Safety Center is an important step toward building a modern crisis-management and humanitarian coordination system aligned with EU standards (EUSDR PA1A, PA11).
Enhancing protection of coastal and port infrastructure is vital for maintaining competitiveness, particularly as Danube ports continue to expand capacity.

IDR recommends:

1. Strengthening the integration of Odesa and Danube ports through unified logistics planning.
2. Expanding cooperation with the EU on port security and resilience (including CEF support).
3. Establishing a joint crisis-response center for Greater Odesa and the Lower Danube.
4. Accelerating modernization of coastal protection, early-warning systems and air-defense infrastructure.