history of the port

The peculiarities of Astrakhan's geopolitical position, its extensive trade relations, and the development of Volga and Caspian shipping determined the city's role as a major commercial port of Russia.

As early as the 17th century, Astrakhan housed a special Business Yard for the construction and repair of private and state vessels. In 1722, by decree of Peter I, the Astrakhan port was officially established on the Kutumovaya River. A few years later, at the initiative of I. A. Sinyaev, the port and the Admiralty were relocated to the banks of the Volga.

Intensive trade development and the increase in cargo transportation volumes created conditions for the port's growth. The substantial demands placed on it by established cargo transportation practices necessitated a radical reconstruction of port facilities, completed by 1857. This transformation elevated the port to first-class status.

In 1857, a mechanical plant with 13 workshops was constructed on its premises, and in 1859, a floating wooden dock for ship repairs was inaugurated.

The growth of ship trade in the latter half of the 19th century facilitated the establishment of the Astrakhan berth line, which later evolved into the Astrakhan river port in the first half of the 20th century.

In April 1848, the actual state councilor V.V. Skriptsyn and the state councilor N.A. Zherebtsov submitted a petition to establish the Mercury company with an authorized capital of 750 thousand rubles. The company's charter was formally approved on April 9, 1849.

To expand into the Caspian market, a new company called "Caucasus" was established, with its charter approved on April 15, 1858. However, in May of the same year, these two companies merged to form a single entity named "Caucasus and Mercury." In 1878, the entire territory of the Astrakhan port, including the boathouse and the mechanical plant, was transferred to this combined company

In 1913, the company merged with the Eastern Society of Commodity Warehouses and was subsequently known as KAMVO. By 1916, the united company had become part of the shipping syndicate.

Following the establishment of Soviet power, in January 1918, all private firms and companies in Astrakhan retained their organizational structures, with the central Business Council assuming oversight. However, during the summer of 1918, the Business Council was dissolved, and the Astrakhan regional administration was established.

In 1923, the Volga State River Shipping Company was established in Gorky, replacing the district administration. Additionally, a goods and passenger agency was formed in Astrakhan. By 1929, this agency was renamed the dry cargo pier of the Nizhne-Volga River Shipping Company.

From 1932, the Astrakhan port was referred to as the Astrakhan Transit-Dry Cargo Pier of the 1st Category of the Lower Volga River Shipping Company (NVRS), and since June 1943, it has been known as the Astrakhan River Port of NVRS. In the early post-war years, the Astrakhan River Port was part of the Lower Volga Shipping Company, and in 1956, it was subordinate to the Volga Unified River Shipping Company (VURS).

In April 1960, the Marine Trade Port and the Astrakhan River Port were merged and given the common name "Astrakhan Port of VURS." On April 17, 1962, based on Order No. 71 of the Minister of the River Fleet of the RSFSR dated March 22, 1962, the merger of the Astrakhan River Port and the Astrakhan District Administration into the Astrakhan Port took place.

In 1993, the Astrakhan Port was transformed into a public joint-stock company. On December 28, 2002, the Central Cargo District, a part of the Astrakhan Port, was reorganized into the Limited Liability Company "PKF Central Cargo Port".

Currently, LLC MANUFACTURING-BUSINESS CONCERN "CENTRAL CARGO PORT" is the leading port in the Astrakhan region, providing stevedoring services for the transportation corridor "North-South."