Filenews 26 March 2022 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The largest investment in the history of the Republic of Cyprus with an estimated value of €1.2 billion, the commercialization of the port and marina of Larnaka, enters the implementation stage as of April 1, 2022, when the consortium Kition Ocean Holdings Ltd officially undertakes the management of the project. The joint development of the port and the marina is expected to be completed in four phases, over a period of twelve years, radically changing the image of Larnaka.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Study (MEEP) for the redevelopment of the port and marina in Larnaca has been submitted to the Environmental Authority and is open for consultation until 21/4/2022. With the licensing of the project, bulldozers will be able to enter the site for the official commencement of works. The area will be connected to the existing urban fabric and the corresponding services, and even includes the historic listed dock which will be maintained and protected during the works, and will remain open to the public. It is noted that Kition reached an agreement on 2/12/2020, with the Republic of Cyprus, for the "Development of the Port and marina of Larnaka", thus undertaking to implement the largest development project of the Republic of Cyprus, with a budget of approximately €1.2 billion.
The original Concept Design was prepared by Aecom for Kition and includes building and port works, as well as projects related to the marina. In August 2021, for the environmental study (MEEP), the consortium "Rogan Associates S.A. – Atlantis Environment & Innovation" was selected for the successful execution of the updated development, taking into account all possible impacts and corresponding measures, in order to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, both at national and international level.
The main objective of the development of Larnaka port is the creation of a modern and functional freight and passenger port station. It should be noted that based on the proposed plans, port freight activities are separated from passenger activities.
The main objective of the redevelopment of the Larnaka marina is the re-development of the marina's sea area in order to achieve a minimum capacity of 600 berths for yachts up to 115 meters in size.
The implementation of the Master Plan is expected to take place in four phases. During the construction, the disruption of the existing functions of the port and the marina will be reduced to a minimum through a series of measures concerning the environmentally rational design as well as the best construction techniques. It is noted that the project will contribute significantly to the achievement of the national goals for the development and promotion of the region, the improvement of the standard of living of the residents of Larnaka, but also of the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus in general.
As far as the first phase of the project is concerned, it will be completed over a period of five years. It will start with the maintenance and restoration of the historic dock and will continue with the creation of basic infrastructure projects such as the construction of a new road that will connect Finikoudes with the roundabout of the port, a new dock at the port, a yacht club building, a new passenger terminal hall, an administration building, an increase in the capacity of the marina to 600 vessels with the creation of a new breakwater and the creation of a 5-star luxury hotel, while in the third phase the creation of another 4-star hotel is planned.
During this initial period of development, roads, networks and pedestrian streets will be constructed in order to comply with the minimum requirements in order to connect the development area with the city. Indicatively, the marina's new pedestrian street, the Yacht Club and the Cruise Terminal will be connected to the coastal road and Finikoudes Avenue. The coastal road will have a width of at least 25.5 meters extending the current path by 1 km.
Also, most of the main park will be developed during the first phase, but will be completed during the second phase.
The extension of Finikoudes Avenue will be constructed during the initial development period, will extend from Europe Square to Nicolaides, and will be connected to the rest of the city. From this road will be built a new road that will lead to the new terminal of the cruise, along the port until access to the terminal.
At this stage, all parking spaces located to the west of Finikoudes Avenue will be developed.
In the marina area, both existing breakwaters will be dismantled, and two new breakwaters will be constructed which will enlarge the port basin, creating a total of 600 berths. In the windward breakwater, a floating pier is constructed on the inner side to be used as a traffic corridor for pedestrians. 300 car parking spaces are also provided.
In the port area, access to the cruise area will be either through the car park, or through the parking/waiting area of buses and taxis that are directly connected to the main street of the marina. Therefore, access to the cruise area is achieved by using the main internal road of the marina. The road network of the Cruise section will not include any main internal road, while it will include only the road sections required for the effective integration of the vehicle parking area and the bus and taxi parking/waiting area.
The cruise ships will dock at the southern quay of the port, where the cranes are currently located and cereals are mainly traded. In Phase A priority will be given to cruise ships. Cargo ships will be served on the north and south quayside. The goods on cargo ships will be handled by mobile cranes. This equipment provides flexibility so that cargo ships can be served on both docks in Phase A.
Fishing vessels will be accommodated within the development area. In addition, the floating pier on a dock will be deposed to extend the existing dock by about 80 meters to the east.
In the second phase the building for the maintenance and repair of vessels
The projects planned in Phase B include the majority of the planned buildings, the completion of public space, as well as several interventions in the marina and port areas.
In the Real Estate area, the construction of all low-rise buildings, four medium-height apartment buildings, a multi-storey building on the west side of the new avenue and the academic and office buildings that will be located at the northern end of the area are planned.
In the marina area the Yacht Maintenance and Repair Shed will be constructed in the northern part, as the previous facility for yacht repair will be demolished at this stage. During Phase B in the northern part of the port, a new land-based repository will also be constructed for the marina of at least 20,000 m2.
The road network includes a main internal road and two additional roads. The main internal road starts from the main gate of the port area and includes 2 lanes per direction 3.5 meters wide each. At the end of the 2-lane road, an area has been designed where all the necessary checks are carried out, especially for vehicles using the loading/unloading area.
Luxury hotel inside the marina
The projects planned for Phase C concern several extensions in the areas of the marina and the port and some real estate buildings.
During the third phase in the area of Real Estate, the last medium-height residential complex, the luxury hotel and two multi-storey linear buildings on the dock of the port will be constructed. During this phase, the windward breakwater of the marina will be completed, offering new land for the construction of about half of the independent houses along the dock and an emblematic residential building (Lighthouse Residential Tower).
In the marina area, during the third phase, the windward breakwater is completed with the construction of prefabricated artificial boulders and floors. In addition, a floating pontoon is constructed on the inner side to be used as a corridor for pedestrians.
In the making the first private island
During the fourth phase, part of the windward breakwater will be deposed, in order to allow access by vessels to the private island.
In the area of Real Estate, the rest of the houses on the windward pier and a private island will be constructed in the southeast corner of the new breakwater, which will host an exclusive residence, accessible by boat or car (via a supported bridge) from the windward side of the breakwater. Also constructed is the last multi-storey building to the west of the avenue along with the adjacent plot which provides parking space.
In the port area, the Cruise Station building will be completed reaching approximately 2,350 m2 and will support the operation of the station as a home porting. The remaining required parking/waiting areas for the cruise building will also be constructed.
In the marina area, during the final construction phase, the Private Island of 2,400 m2 will be constructed, in the windward breakwater of the marina.
