Mykolaiv (Ukrainian:Миколаїв Ukrainian pronunciation: [mɪkoˈɫɑjiw]), also known as Nikolaev (from Russian Николаев), is a city in southern Ukraine, the administrative center of the Mykolaiv Oblast. Mykolaiv is arguably the main ship building center of the Black Sea. Aside from its three shipyards within the city, there are located a number of research centers specializing in shipbuilding such as the State Research and Design Shipbuilding Center, Zoria-Mashproekt and others. Population: 494,763(2015 est.)