Filenews 12 January 2026 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The grandiose project of the expansion of the port in Latchi is now at the stage of evaluation of the environmental studies and then the tendering, with the budget amounting to €52 million. The Cyprus Ports Authority (CPA), as the implementing body, has already submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment Study (EIA) to the Department of Environment, which in turn submitted it to public consultation by February 7, 2026.
The project is scheduled to be delivered in two phases: in February 2028, phase A, which concerns boat berths, while it will be completed in August 2028.
The aim of the project is to upgrade the marine and land infrastructure in the area, which is a key gateway to Akamas, as well as an important starting point for yachts and coastal cruises.
The central objective of the investment is not only the quantitative increase of berths, but the qualitative transformation of the port into an "EcoPort". The upgrade projects of the existing port aim to transform it into a modern "green port" in accordance with European specifications and regulations, so that it can be included in the list of "EcoPorts" ports.
According to the study documents, the project aims to fully harmonize with European standards, integrating "green" infrastructure, waste management systems and state-of-the-art anti-pollution means.
The new interventions include modern port facilities, additional berthing areas, expansion of floating infrastructure, as well as building and technical infrastructure for the maintenance and servicing of vessels. At the same time, areas for commercial and recreational activities are planned, as well as suitable building facilities for public services, such as the Port and Maritime Police, the Customs and the Department of Fisheries.
The expansion will offer capacity for an additional 186 vessels (fishing and recreational) with a length of up to 40 meters.
In particular, the new plans provide for the construction of new quays of approximately 700 m., new floating docks of approximately 360 m in length, 186 additional berths for boats and land areas for the construction of premises with an area of approximately 4,500 m². In addition, the creation of areas for the maintenance and repair of boats and refuelling, and other services such as restaurants, entertainment facilities and offices are foreseen.
The main constructions include new breakwaters, with the construction of a windward and leeward pier to create a new, protected harbour basin.
The onshore infrastructure provides for the creation of new areas and access roads, as well as provision for future building facilities of 4,500 sq.m. that will house the administrative services of the port, shops and recreation areas.
In the hydraulic works, important interventions are planned at the mouth of the river "Argaki tou Agios Ioannis". At the point of the river's estuary, the new quay will be constructed, so the river will be underground, according to the results of the hydrological/hydraulic study that has been carried out.
The planning was called upon to balance between the development and protection of cultural and natural heritage.
Due to the submerged remains of the Hellenistic period in the western part, the Department of Antiquities imposed a 50-meter protection zone, where any construction aimed at protecting the monument is prohibited. This is the only port project associated with the ancient kingdom of Arsinoe/Marion.
The study identified underwater Posidonia (Posidonia oceanica) grasslands, sandpiping, reefs, EU priority habitat, as well as nesting beaches for Caretta caretta turtles and green turtles.
Recognizing the inevitable loss of part of marine habitats, the study proposes pioneering compensatory measures. Among them, the imposition of an environmental fee on port users is being considered. Given that the number of visitors to the area reaches 500,000 people per year, the proceeds could finance the restoration of Posidonia meadows in other areas or local public utility projects in Polis Chrysochous.
Today the port is used to serve: a) small private pleasure boats (in the newer eastern basin) and professional and amateur fishing boats (in the old western port basin), b) Maritime Police boats, water sports boats, short day cruise boats and other categories of boats that can be docked under the condition of a sufficiently small draft.
The port of Latchi was built in the early 1970s, initially as a small fishing shelter which is today the western basin of the existing port, with a total occupied area of 150m x 100m (parallel and perpendicular to the coastline respectively). Due to the ever-increasing trend for nautical tourism, resulting in the increasing demand for space for mooring yachts, the Cyprus Ports Authority proceeded with the expansion of the port with the construction of a new external basin, which was completed within the period 2003‐2005, when the port took its current form.
The proposed project concerns the upgrade and expansion of the existing port of Latchi, which currently has a capacity of 350 vessels and accommodates fishing boats, pleasure boats, port police vessels and small cruise ships.
The existing port basin will continue to be used by the fishing boats of the fishermen of the area and the boats providing tourist services, while the mooring places of boats in the extension will be offered for private pleasure boats.
This is an initiative that is expected to strengthen the local economy, while upgrading the tourist product and services in the coastal area of Latchi.
Projects planned in the wider area
In the wider area of the project under consideration, the following projects are planned:
• Petroleum service station for the supply of boats within the port of Latchi.
• Construction of Tourist Development – Additions / conversions and change of use from organized tourist apartments to a 4-star category hotel (Leonardo Club Latsi), 480 beds with the capacity to accommodate 720 people.
• Construction/improvement of the coastal road of Polis Chrysochous. The road that will be improved starts from the location "Halimes", near the community beach in Latchi and ends at the location "Kampos tou Mavrovouni", in the eastern part of the administrative boundaries of the Municipality, next to the Antara Palace Hotel.
• Addition of a 4* hotel to the existing Akamanthea tourist unit in the Troulia area in the Municipality of Polis Chrysochous. This addition will have a capacity of 325 beds, while the capacity of the existing unit amounts to 172 beds.
• Creation of a Linear Park along the bed of the Chrysochous River. The path will start from the Community of Skoulli and will end almost at the mouth of the Chrysochos River with a total length of 11 kilometers.
• Creation of a coastal pedestrian street in the Municipality of Polis Chrysochous, 3.9 km long. The pedestrian street will be located on the coastal front of the Municipality of Polis Chrysochous along the coastline from the camping site of Polis Chrysochous to the dock of the "Limni" area.
• Construction of a Football Field in the area of an abandoned camp.
