Batum

The article, which is based on documents from the Russian State Historical Archive, examinesthe main directions of operations of the Russian Steam Navigation and Trading Company in the port of Batum between 1874 and 1913. The data sources were used to address three research questions. Firstly, what were the regional directions and content (cargo and passenger transportation) of these shipping operations? Secondly, the importance of these operations in terms of the regional needs of Batum was investigated. Thirdly, the investigation sought to ascertain whether these operations exerted a substantial influence on coastal and international shipping. The methodological framework utilised facilitated the identification of key stages,institutional agreements between stakeholders (public-private partnerships) and goods movements within supply chains, and the nature of trade relationships between regions. It also illuminated how corresponding change and development is shaped by consumer demand, geopolitical and socio-economic situation, and, naturally, the functioning of maritime transport. The findings reveal that these changes and developments are driven by several factors: favourable infrastructural conditions in the port of Batum; location-specific advantages such as the ability to coordinate domestic and foreign transportation and effectively redirect cargoand passengers; and governmental negotiations processes as a result of the shipping company’s strong position, peculiarities of the multinational character and Black Sea region’s economic capabilities.