TWO Chinese firms have won the rights to build and operate a deepsea port on the Black Sea, reports Singapore's Splash 247.

China Communications Construction Company and China Harbour Investment will develop the long-planned port at Anaklia in Georgia.

The initial phase of Anaklia port development involves constructing a berth capable of handling 7 million tonnes of cargo and a 600,000 TEU container terminal, with a total investment value of US$600 million. The government will hold a controlling stake of 51 per cent in the port.

Anaklia is a town and seaside resort in western Georgia. It is located in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, at the place where the Enguri River flows into the Black Sea.

Georgia's top two existing ports - Batumi and Poti - are operating at near capacity as trade from China heading west to Europe grows.