Larnaca Marina Revamp: €30M Project Launches
Decisions on the Expansion of the Marina and Port Will Be Taken at a Later Stage Following an Expert Study.
The government has officially decided to separate the two projects involving the development of the Larnaca port and marina. They are now focusing on upgrading the marina and surrounding areas, as well as constructing a building for the Larnaca Yacht Club, with an estimated cost of up to €30 million plus VAT, following the recommendations of the city's stakeholders.
In a press conference in Nicosia, Minister of Transport, Communications, and Works Alexis Vafeadis mentioned that, in agreement with the ad hoc committee of Larnaca, decisions on the expansion of the marina and port will be taken at a later stage following an expert study.
These decisions come after the termination of the €1.2 billion joint development contract with the Kition Ocean Holdings consortium on May 27, marking the third failure of this initiative since 2010 and 2015.
"The termination of the contract should not deprive Larnaca of these projects, and our decisions for the next steps must consider the quickest possible implementation of the works," emphasized Alexis Vafeadis.
Regarding the maintenance and upgrade of the marina, works will include deepening the sea area of approximately 25,000 square meters at the marina's entrance, maintenance within the marine zone, completion of maintenance work on the historic pier, creation of a new boat lifting and maintenance area, and relocation of the fence due to the construction of the Larnaca Yacht Club.
The Larnaca Yacht Club building will include offices for marina management and government services, recreational spaces for the public, and is expected to evolve into a social entertainment space for citizens and service providers for marina users.
It will potentially become an iconic building for Larnaca, and a fast-track architectural competition will be announced for its design to avoid delaying the project. It should be a landmark building as it will signify a major gateway to the Republic of Cyprus.
Additionally, works will be carried out for the creation of a park and green spaces, landscaping for public recreational use, providing free access to visitors to the marina area and the Yacht Club's activities.
According to Vafeadis, the value of the projects is estimated at €25-30 million plus VAT, with the Ministry of Transport as the awarding authority either exclusively or in cooperation with the Municipality of Larnaca, depending on the Municipality's capacity to execute these individual projects.
Regarding timelines, Vafeadis stated that the maintenance and upgrade of the marina are expected to be completed by September 2026, compared to March 2027, which was Kition's timeline. The Yacht Club construction is expected to be completed by December 2027, compared to February 2027, and the park and green spaces are expected to be completed by September 2026, compared to March 2027.
Regarding the delivery of studies conducted by Kition for these projects, Vafeadis said the matter is still unclear. "We expect this to be resolved soon and that they will transfer the studies to us - as they have transferred the equipment to the state - as an asset that should be transferred under the contract," he said, adding that if the company does not cooperate, "we will handle it accordingly."
Furthermore, Vafeadis mentioned that the Ministry of Transport and the ad hoc committee share the view that decisions on the marina and port expansion should be taken after an expert study, and the port development needs should be evaluated concerning the expansion of the Vasilikos port.
The development will proceed through a public-private partnership contract, and investor interest will be explored both in Cyprus and abroad through a brief consultation process not expected to exceed three months, followed by commissioning a specialist study.
He emphasized that the approach for the Larnaca port should remain as a passenger port serving the cruise tourism market.
The country's needs must be re-evaluated to see where we stand after twenty years, what the country needs today, what services and infrastructure, and then decisions can be made. Therefore, we are separating the two, allowing time to study them separately so they can be implemented and function in a way that serves not only Larnaca but also the country's needs.
Finally, Vafeadis reminded that tenders have already been announced for the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan with a cost of approximately €18 million and a completion horizon of 2026. The Ministry of the Interior will also study the possibility of accelerating the study and construction for the expansion of Panagoulis Avenue, which will allow faster development of the northern part of Larnaca.
