Museum of Shipbuilding and Fleet

The Museum of Shipbuilding and Fleet occupies a classical building from the late 1700s situated along the Southern Bug River and houses roughly 3,000 maritime objects spread across twelve rooms. The collection includes ship models, navigation equipment, technical instruments, and artifacts from different periods that together tell the story of the region's seafaring tradition.

The building was constructed in the late 1700s and served as headquarters for Black Sea Fleet commanders for more than a century, with several notable admirals based there. This period established the city's role as a major naval center in the region.

The collection shows how maritime life and trade developed over centuries, starting from ancient times through the period of Kievan Rus, reflecting the region's long connection to water commerce. Walking through the rooms, you sense how important ships and seafaring were to the people who lived along these rivers and coasts.

The museum is open from Tuesday through Sunday with evening hours most days, extending later on Wednesdays. Plan several hours to properly explore the collections on display.

The museum preserves a model of the 'Novgorod', one of the first ships with a tubular hull design that was built at the local shipyard in 1873. This vessel represents an unusual experiment in naval engineering that reveals the city's role in trying bold new construction methods.