The article is aimed at generalizing the world practice along with forming the approaches to classifying clusters, including port clusters, introducing clusterization into the activities of Ukrainian ports in order to solve urgent problems of the port industry. The article uses general scientific methods: analysis and synthesis, deduction, grouping, structural and system analyses. Both domestic and foreign literature on types and features of cluster formation is analyzed; the process of cluster development at different stages is defined; a generalized table with different approaches to the classification of clusters, including port clusters, is formed; the possibilities of creating port clusters in Ukraine are considered. It is determined that the most important criteria for classification of clusters are: industry affiliation (woodworking, financial, tourism, pharmaceutical enterprises); development factors (demand-oriented, located in the place of availability of labor resources and these, the location of which is first determined by natural factors); the stage of cluster development; the internal structure of the cluster; the way the cluster appears; the scale of cluster activity. As for port clusters, the economic substantiation for the creation of a port cluster should represent the demand for a certain cargo base. Therefore, it is advisable to analyze the cargo flow to determine its discreteness. The practical significance of the article lies in the fact that the proposed classification features of clusters in general and port clusters in particular allow determining the vector of direction for introducing the best solutions in Ukrainian port activities. The advantage of introducing the cluster conception into the maritime economic complex of Ukraine will be the promotion of holistic development and growth of the innovativeness of the industry. Thanks to this, it is possible to achieve economic effects, as well as increase the competitiveness of Ukrainian ports.

In the article, the authors analyzed the scientific achievements of Ukrainian and foreign scientists in determining the main organizational aspects of multimodal transportation. The concept of «multimodal transportation», its main features, the process of organization and technology of multimodal transportation are studied. In the course of the research it was determined that multimodal transportation is the main trend in the development of transport services both at the global and national levels; the main participants in the implementation of multimodal transportation are indicated. The advantages and disadvantages of using multimodal transportation technology were highlighted. One of the important tasks of modernization of the transport system of Ukraine is the ability to ensure coordinated operation of all modes of transport. The combination of sea and rail transport is especially promising in Ukraine in the implementation of multimodal transport. The tasks of integrated development of transport, warehousing, terminal infrastructure, customs, cargo insurance system and their information support, the interconnection of all these components for coordinated work can be most effectively solved in multimodal transport hubs or transport and logistics centers. Multimodal transport hubs are able to ensure the operation of transport in accordance with the requirements of world standards. This will help attract additional cargo, increase budget revenues, position Ukraine in the world as a major transport power. The authors also analyzed the world practice of creating port clusters with a combination of port and railway infrastructure. It is noted that the port cluster is a concentration of logistics activities, commercial centers, information and transport hubs. The authors identified the advantages and substantiated the possibilities of applying the cluster approach, in particular the creation of a port cluster, in the implementation of multimodal transportation using a combination of sea and rail transport in Ukraine.