A Soviet collectible postcard from 1981, depicting the berths of the Odesa Sea Passenger Terminal with docked hydrofoil vessels and port infrastructure.
What is shown on the postcard
In the foreground, the boarding platform of the passenger terminal is shown with two ‘Kometa’ type high-speed hydrofoils (one clearly bearing the name ‘KOMETA-5’). Groups of passengers with luggage stand on the quay. A small pleasure boat and a pontoon pier are visible in the midground. The background features a large white merchant or passenger vessel docked at the opposite berth, with numerous portal cranes of the commercial port rising behind it.
Historical note
The Odesa Sea Passenger Terminal, designed by architects V. Golovin and V. Kremlyakov and completed in 1968, was one of the largest passenger terminals on the Black Sea. During the 1970s and 1980s, the port of Odesa was a vital hub for high-speed passenger transportation. The ‘Kometa’ hydrofoils, developed under the leadership of R. Alekseev, provided scheduled services connecting Odesa with Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Crimean ports.
Present day
In subsequent decades, the terminal infrastructure underwent significant modernization, including the construction of a hotel complex at the end of the pier. Today, scheduled hydrofoil passenger services have ceased, and the berths are primarily used by naval ships, coast guard cutters, and auxiliary vessels.
Location (map)
Address: 6 Prymorska St, Odesa, Odesa Oblast, Ukraine, 65026
Coordinates: 46.490100, 30.745800
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the Odesa Sea Passenger Terminal berths.
Questions and answers
- What types of vessels are pictured in the foreground? The foreground shows high-speed passenger hydrofoils of the ‘Kometa’ type, which were used for fast coastal transit.
- When was the Odesa Sea Passenger Terminal built? The Odesa Sea Passenger Terminal complex was constructed in 1968.
- What can be seen in the background of the postcard? The background features portal cranes of the Odesa Commercial Sea Port and a large white vessel moored at the dock.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Odesa from 1981.
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