The government’s €30m plans for Larnaca

The government has abandoned the idea of jointly developing Larnaca’s port and marina, announcing instead that it will spend some €30 million to upgrade the marina and surrounding area, heeding the suggestions of the city’s local stakeholders.

As for the expansion of the port and marina, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Alexis Vafeades said this will be postponed to make way for expert studies and feel out investor interest.

Back in May, Kition Ocean Holdings terminated its €1.2b contract with the government for the port and marina’s joint development. This was the coutnry’s third failed attempt, with similar deals falling through in 2010 and 2015.

Hence the decision to explore something new and go with developing the port and marina separately.

“The contract termination should not deprive the city of Larnaca of these projects and our decisions on the next steps should take into account the implementation of the projects as soon as possible,” Vafeades said.

The Transport Minister announced projects of an estimated value of €25 to €30 million, for which tenders will be launched by the Ministry which will act as contracting authority in collaboration with the Municipality of Larnaca if possible.

The projects include the dredging of entrance of the 25,000-square metre marina, upgrading of its sea zone, finishing the upgrade of the preserved dock and a new area for yacht lifting, maintenance and service.

The projects also include the construction of a new Larnaca Yacht club which will also house the marina management, state services, recreation areas, in a building which will constitute “a point of reference” as Vafeades added.

On the expansion of the Port of Larnaca and of the marina, Vafeades said the Ministry agrees with the Larnaca stakeholders that this should be left for a later stage, following a study by experts, while the port will continue to serve mainly as a cruise ship port.

The development should take place as a public private partnership, after enquiring investor interest both in Cyprus and abroad, following a brief consultation period which is not expected to exceed three months and after the that an expert study will be carried out, he added.

“The state needs should be reconsidered, we need to see where we stand after twenty years and more, we should assess what the country needs today. This is why we say we separate the two (projects) to allow time for study for two projects separately, to be implemented separately and to serve the needs of not only Larnaca alone but the country as well,” Vafeades concluded.