The opening of the Kerch Strait bridge resulted in a 20% reduction in the heights of ships able to enter the Azov and a 31% reduction in cargo weights

The opening of the Kerch Strait bridge resulted in a 20% reduction in the heights of ships able to enter the Azov and a 31% reduction in cargo weights, Aleksandr Oleynik, Mariupol port director, tells Nolan Peterson of the Daily Sentinel. Oleynik, who has worked at Mariupol port since 1992, said that historically the port received ships with air drafts up to 41 meters and cargoes of 32,000. By building the bridge low, the Russians cut air drafts to 33 meters. Then, they imposed cargo limits of 22,000 tons.