Pripyat Cargo Port

The Pripyat Cargo Port was once a vital industrial hub used to build both the city and the nuclear power plant. Located on the banks of Yanovsky Zaton Lake, this site was the gateway for heavy materials needed for Reactors 5 and 6. You might recognize these massive, rusty cranes if you have ever played the popular video game “STALKER.”

The port features four massive cranes that stand as silent guards over the water. Three of these “bulk-handling” cranes sit on the shore, while one floating crane remains in the lake. These machines are 30 meters tall and could lift up to 12.5 tons at a time. Before the disaster, they were constantly moving to unload concrete and steel for the growing city. Now, they are in a very bad state and are slowly being taken over by nature.

A Critical Role in the Cleanup
After the 1986 explosion, the port became a key site for the rescue mission. The cranes were used to unload dry concrete and other materials to build the first sarcophagus over Reactor 4. This massive concrete shell was designed to trap 200 tons of radioactive lava and dangerous dust. The workers also used the cranes to build a dam. This barrier separated the lake from the Pripyat River to keep the radiation from spreading into the water system.

Danger in the Cab
Working at the port after the accident was incredibly dangerous. Crane operators had to sit high up in their cabs where radiation levels were far above safe limits. Many workers felt sick while they were on the job because the metal of the cranes had soaked up so much radiation. By 1987, the port finally stopped operating because it was just too toxic for humans. The machines were simply left exactly where they stood.

A Haven for Wildlife
Even though the site is still radioactive, it has become a popular place for local animals. Huge numbers of birds now build their nests inside the rusty metal frames of the cranes. The floating crane has started to sink into the mud, and the shore cranes are crumbling from years of rain and wind. While the port is too dangerous for people to stay, it remains a famous landmark for explorers looking for a glimpse of the zone’s industrial past.

The rusting cranes of the cargo port stand as metal monuments to the workers who risked their lives to contain the disaster.