Filenews 21 February 2026 - by Natasa Christoforou
The proposals of the study by Growthfund (Public Investment Fund of Greece), which collaborated with the consultants MTBS (Maritime and Transport Business Solutions), were presented by a delegation of the Ministry of Transport, under Alexis Vafeadis, at a crucial meeting of the Larnaca Development Committee.
The study prefers a separation of the project and proposes 6 scenarios for the separate development of the two infrastructures, while the economic evaluation will be completed in April 2026.
The three scenarios for the port:
1. To continue as it is with the upgrade of existing equipment for loading and unloading. The proposal does not meet the needs until 2055
2. To carry out improvement works, mainly on the northern quay, to increase its length. The proposal includes dredging the port area and rearranging the land area to better serve vessels. According to Growthfund's estimate, the proposal satisfies the needs until 2055.
3. Drastic measures to increase the turning circle of the port, to serve large ships, new quays and redistribution of land spaces. The new provision covers the needs until 2055.
The three scenarios for the marina:
1. To remain as it is and maintain a capacity of 340 vessels. Improvement of existing spaces. With this proposal, the marina will not be able to accommodate new boats.
2. Development of a new basin and improvement works with the aim of increasing its capacity by 200 vessels. It satisfies the needs for 7 years from the day of its operation.
3. Greater expansion of the port basin and a new breakwater to increase the capacity by 300-400 vessels. Based on this proposal, boats up to 50 meters will be able to be accommodated. The needs are satisfied for 12 years.
The Minister of Transport, after the presentation of the proposals by the head of the Department of Public Works, Stelios Zervos, announced that the government prefers the second scenario for the two infrastructures and that the projects will be implemented by the Cyprus Ports Authority.
Regarding the land area, in which there were plans in the past for the creation of hotels and residential units, he said that experts suggest that it should be used by the port. "The proposal intends to achieve, first of all, the rapid implementation of the projects. This means a legal bidding process with the least possible time. Second reduction of the risk of failure as we have had three times to date. In order to be able to achieve this, we must not rely on foreign capital, but on our own strengths and implement with our own people. We have decided that any decision taken for any development will be made by the Ports Authority, which is an arm of the state. It is the state that will do this work. We have decided that we will work with Larnaca to find the best solution. The solution must be viable and such that it ensures that we will not have another shipwreck. Everything is on the table and we are in the discussion openly and without prejudice. We want to listen to Larnaca."
The non-utilization of the land area caused, however, strong reactions among members of the Development Committee that will make final decisions in two weeks. The statement of the mayor of Larnaca, president of the Andera Vyra Committee, is characteristic: "What worries me, which I have not seen, is the development of land space. That is, there in the area of the marina, the people of Larnaca are waiting for some developments that will bring jobs and development. Having a marina just for the boats for me personally is not the be-all and end-all. These are my personal opinions. The point where I want to see more things is the development of the land area since there we expected that it would bring development beyond the port which is very important and there I think that the proposals are in the right direction for the port. But for the marina and the land area, I think we need to see what we expect the most," he noted.
Within the next few days, however, there will be a pan-municipal meeting in Larnaca to give the citizens the opportunity to take a position and then decisions will be made. Regarding the proposal of the shareholder of the former contractor, Prosperity Group, it was clarified by the Minister of Transport that it cannot be examined for legal reasons. Specifically, as he mentioned, the state cannot legally proceed with a direct award, but on the basis of a tender or with another legal procedure that will be decided.
