MOSCOW, April 2 (Reuters) - Russia's oil pipeline

monopoly Transneft said on Wednesday it has

suspended a mooring at the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk for 90

days following a snap inspection by a transportation watchdog.

The Novorossiisk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP) is one of

Russia's largest exporting outlets and the closure of one

mooring is unlikely to significantly affect the port's

operations.

"A temporary ban on operations has been imposed on oil

loading berth 8. NCSP has been ordered to eliminate all

identified violations by June 30, 2025," Transneft said.

The snap checks, which are also being carried out at Taman,

Tuapse and other Black Sea ports, are related to a massive oil

products spill in December in the Kerch Strait.

The action has already resulted in the closure of two of

three moorings at a nearby terminal of the Caspian Pipeline

Consortium, in which U.S. oil majors Chevron ( CVX ) and Exxon

Mobil ( XOM ) hold stakes.