Infrastructure of the Port of Poti: Current Condition, Key Constraints, and Strategic Prospects for Modernization

ანოტაცია

This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of the infrastructural, operational, and technological condition of the Port of Poti, Georgia’s principal maritime gateway. The research evaluates the port’s hydrotechnical parameters, cargo-handling capabilities, warehousing capacity, transport accessibility, and level of digital integration. Statistical data for 2019–2025 are analyzed to identify trends in container throughput, general and bulk cargo handling, and Ro-Ro operations. The findings indicate that insufficient navigational depth, aging lifting equipment, limited storage infrastructure, and the absence of an integrated digital ecosystem significantly constrain the port’s competitiveness in the Black Sea region. The study evaluates the port’s performance with reference to international standards established by UNCTAD, IMO, EMSA, and the World Bank. Strategic recommendations focus on dredging and channel expansion, modernization of cargo-handling equipment, terminal development, digital transformation through a Port Community System, and environmental sustainability measures.