Full steam ahead for Larnaca port and marina

The government is preparing tenders ‘immediately’ for experts linked to the Larnaca port and marina project, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said on Monday after a two-hour meeting.

An ad hoc committee on the matter met with Vafeades at the ministry at 10am, where the minister pledged the tender documents will be ready mid-September.

He said all efforts would move swiftly and all involved local authorities will be kept informed of the progress.

Three short-term projects were announced on July 31 which concern the study for the nautical club, the construction of that will connect Finikoudes with the marina, as well as the upgrading and maintenance of the marina, Vafeades said.

For the latter, experts with the public works department will begin preparing tender documents, while for the nautical club, there will be a competition called for the architectural design.

Vafeades specified he already met with Cyprus’ Scientific and Technical Chamber (Etek). “I insist on an architectural competition, because I want an emblematic building for Larnaca and Cyprus.”

As for the ‘clash’ between the nautical club over the point of entry and exit for boats within the marina, the minister said he would meet with the public works department to discuss relocating the point so as not to cause further delay.

By September, Vafeades said he would meet with the ad-hoc committee for a briefing over the timelines.

Asked to comment about the port authority’s proposal to involve in the project, the minister said the Larnaca port development is part of a strategic state plan for port infrastructure.

As such, what will happen with Vasiliko will affect Larnaca, he added. Until the bigger picture is clear, no decision can be made.

“We may need a €500,000 investment, maybe €1 billion.”

It all boils down to who the best project carrier will be, the money that will be needed and where the funding comes from, Vafeades explained.

Larnaca already has a commercial and tourist character “and we want to know from the experts how we compare with the other ports in the Eastern Mediterranean, how we are affected by geopolitical changes.

“This will help us have a better picture for Larnaca, if the port should be bigger, if we should accept bigger or smaller ships.”

Larnaca mayor Andreas Vyras said after the deal sunk with Kition “we knew things wouldn’t be easy” but there are strict timelines in place and strict oversight that these projects will be done properly and be implemented.”

Asked if Kition could overturn any of the plans, Vafeades said “there are no such indications to date. We are moving forward with our plans.”

Both the minister and mayor said there was interest for investments both from the domestic front as well as from abroad.

“I believe it is very important to listen to the investors, it will make us all wiser.”

Already in the past two months, there have been requests for meetings over the projects, Vafeades said, including from Cypriots.

In May, the government moved to terminate its agreement with Kition Ocean Holdings over the Larnaca port and marina project, leaving the future of the stalled €1.2 billion development up in the air.

Vafeades said at the time the government was left with no other choice after Kition repeatedly failed to pay its financial guarantee.