Construction work on a bridge being built by Russia to connect the Kerch Peninsula in Crimea and the Taman Peninsula of Krasnodarski Krai will affect vessels using the Kerch canal in the second half of August and will also prevent vessels from leaving Kavkaz port.

Russia’s ministry of transport said Monday the closure of the canal would not last more than three days in total and would be coordinated with the port’s deliveries schedule.

Traders said the interruption to Kavkaz port might lead to delays.

The current connection is by the Kerch Strait ferry between Port Kavkaz and Port Krym. Construction of the bridge, which will have a road and a rail line, was planned to be completed by December 2018.

Source: Platts