PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Rostov-on-Don
Pilot
updated May 2010Pilots available by prior arrangement.
Key data
updated May 2025Size limits
LOA 147.83m, beam 24.2m, draught 5.6m, 19,399DWT.
Load line zone
Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Seasonal Area for ships of 100m or less in length, Winter Dec 1 to Feb 28/29, Summer Mar 1 to Nov 30.
Tides
Range of water level in the river is subject to considerable seasonal change due to the melting of snow in the river basin and also due to the wind.
Current: In Girlo Peschanoye (the mouth of the River Don (47°05'N 039°15'E)), the currents are mainly affected by the wind while at Rostov-on-Don the current is affected by the level of the river in the spring and by the wind in other seasons.
Note: W gales may reduce the current to nothing or even cause a current upstream with a rate of 0.25kts.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| BulkTerminal (South Bank) | 5.60 m | 148 m | 3 |
| Cargo Terminal 4 | — | 141 m | 3 |
| General Cargo Terminal | 5.40 m | 142 m | 5 |
| Grain Terminal | 5.40 m | 141 m | 3 |
| Rostov Grain Terminal | 5.40 m | 141 m | 1 |
| Rostov Sea Multimodal Port | 5.40 m | 141 m | 6 |
| Aston Terminal | 5.40 m | 142 m | 5 |
| Cargill Terminal | 5.40 m | 141 m | 1 |
| NZNP Rostov-on-Don | 5.40 m | 141 m | 3 |
| Cargo Terminal 2 | — | 141 m | 4 |
| Cargo Terminal 3 | 4.10 m | 141 m | 2 |
| Cargo Terminal 1 | — | 140 m | 8 |
| Donskoy Port | — | — | 2 |
| Passenger Terminal | — | 129 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Aug 2021Approach
The stretch of river has varying depths from 3.0-18.0m and a width from 180m to 1080m.
Restrictions
The shallow canal and the Don permit entry of vessels with max draught of 3.6m.
Tugs: Available by prior arrangement, the port has two ice breakers.
Charts and publications
BA 2234. Admiralty Pilot NP24, NP286(3)
Inspections
Port State Control here: Tokyo MOU.
Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.
Position: Head of Maritime Security Service.
Address: 3/6, Petrovka Str, Moscow 125993, Russia.
Tel: +7 495 221 7130.
Fax: +7 495 200 1003.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.msecurity.ru
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Aug 2021Repairs
Available.
Bunkers, water and stores
Available by prior arrangement.
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours.
About Rostov-on-Don
updated May 2025Where it is
Rostov-on-Don is a river port on the Don, approx 16nm from the port of Azov and approx 24nm from the mouth of the Don River, including 13.5nm of the Azovo-Donskoi Canal from the Gulf of Taganrog.
The port
The port is open from Mar to Nov. All year-round navigation is possible if the winter is mild. Navigation in winter is maintained with the help of ice breakers but is limited by the lifting railway bridge which is opened for shipping at 1000hrs and 1800hrs. If the temperature falls below 7°C the bridge is not lifted and vessels can be blocked at the port. If required, a pilot, tug and bunkers can be ordered.
The port handles of export cargo includes: Ferrous scrap metal, coal, rolled ferrous metals, pig iron, corn, non ferrous metals and alloys, lumber, pyrite, equipment, pipes, chemical industry products, piece goods in big bags, sling bags and on pallets.
The port handles of imported cargo includes: cement, soda ash, micromarble fillers, chrome ore, feldspar, alumina (in soft containers), bentonite clay, perlite, bauxite, ore concentrates, equipment, glass (in boxes), pipes and chemical industry products.
The port handles of cabotage (domestic) cargo: sand, crushed stone, coal, equipment, chemical industry products, piece goods in big bags, sling bags and on pallets, pipes.
Traffic
Approx 16,000,000t of cargo and 7,000 vessels are handled annually.
Questions about Rostov-on-Don
What are the pilot arrangements at Rostov-on-Don?
Pilots available by prior arrangement.
What time zone is Rostov-on-Don in?
Local time at Rostov-on-Don is UTC+3. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Rostov-on-Don?
The deepest berth listed is at BulkTerminal (South Bank): 5.60 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
Which load line zone is Rostov-on-Don in?
Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Seasonal Area for ships of 100m or less in length, Winter Dec 1 to Feb 28/29, Summer Mar 1 to Nov 30.
Who carries out Port State Control at Rostov-on-Don?
Port State Control at Rostov-on-Don: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Rostov-on-Don?
The UN/LOCODE of Rostov-on-Don is RURND.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Rostov-on-Don say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.
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A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.