Filenews 13 July 2022 - by Natasha Christoforou
By around mid-September, the Larnaca marina, which for many years operated as a closed club and was mainly accessible to boat owners, will open to the public. Kition Ocean Holdings Ltd, took over the management of the port and the marina from April 1, planning projects of €1.2 billion. Work has already begun on the creation of recreational areas.
A representative of the company told "F" that fencing was made in the marina to keep the boats insured, as well as repairs to the existing building. At this stage, projects are being carried out to create a restaurant, an open reception area to host events and a playground, to attract families with children. At the same time, parking spaces are being created, while the creation of a roof bar in the marina building and the opening of a new entrance between the port and the marina are at the stage of study, in order to facilitate access to the city centre for those who come by cruise ships that stop in Larnaca.
What is created at this stage in the marina, will be temporary and will remain for three to four years, as estimated, until the second phase of the large investment approaches, where a total overhaul of the site will take place.
Regarding the upgrade of the listed dock, it was decided that the works will finally begin on November 1, at the request of the owners of boats that are professionally active in the field. The owners asked Kition Ocean Holdings Ltd not to start the projects within the summer, since they have not been able to work in the previous two years, due to the measures for the pandemic.
Work on the listed dock includes repairs of the wooden floor, change of lighting and installation of new seats. At the same time, the "nautilus" area will be repaired, in order to become a photo exhibition area and another entrance will be created, in order for visitors to be able to descend from the dock directly to the marina area. The projects are estimated to last six months.
April 2023 major projects
The major projects in the marina and the port are expected to start, as the company's representative said, in April 2023. In the marina, work will begin on the Yacht Club and on the port the works for the building, where the offices will be housed. The biggest project that will start in 2023, however, will be the creation of the road that will connect the coastal front of Finikoudes with the port of Larnaca. The design for the road, which aspires to become the new reference point for the city, is impressive. Around it will be created spaces for restaurants and shops and many green spaces.
