Port of Constanța

The Port of Constanța is located in Constanța, Romania, on the western coast of the Black Sea, 179nmi from the Bosphorus Strait and 85nmi from the Sulina Branch, through which the Danube river flows into the sea. It covers 3926ha, of which 1313ha is land and the rest, 2613ha, is water. The two breakwaters located northwards and southwards shelter the port, creating the safest conditions for port activities. The present length of the north breakwater is 8.344km and the south breakwater is 5.560km.<ref name="Overview / General Info / Maritime port "> The Port of Constanța is the second largest on the Black Sea and the 18th largest in Europe.

The favourable geographical position and the importance of the Port of Constanța is emphasized by the connection with two Pan-European transport corridors: Corridor VII – Danube (inland waterway) and Corridor IV (railway). The two satellite ports, Midia and Mangalia, located not far from Constanța Port, are part of the Romanian maritime port system under the coordination of the Maritime Ports Administration SA.

History

The history of the port is closely related to the history of Constanța. Although Constanța was founded in the 2nd century AD the old Greek colony of Tomis was founded in the 6th century BC. The port-city was organised as an emporium to ease the trade between the Greeks and the local peoples. The Greek influence is maintained until the 1st century BC, when the territory between the Danube and the Black Sea was occupied by the Romans. The first years of Roman governorate were recorded by Ovid, who was exiled to Tomis for unknown reasons. In the next hundred years the port had a substantial development and the city changes its name to Constanța in honour of the Roman Emperor Constantine I.