The construction of the bridge over the Kerch Strait will have negative consequences for Ukrainian metallurgy.
Earlier the Russian authorities claimed that the project would not affect the free sailing in the Black and Azov Seas, nor the throughput of Ukrainian Azov ports – Mariupol and Berdyansk.
“But the reality is different. Moscow has imposed considerable limitations on the ship sizes that can move through the strait, after the railroad arch is assembled”, the Center of army, conversion and disarmament researches reports.
Because of the height of the arch over water is 35 meters, the above water height of a ship should not exceed 33 meters. This prohibits Panamax-size ships from using the strait, as their height is 37.5 meters.
Losses of Ukrainian ports will be enormous.
“In case of Mariupol that’s 25-30% of all the throughput. Around 1 million tons of pig iron per year under contracts with American customers will be under threat”, the center noted. (Ukrainian metal)