The development of the port and marina in Larnaca has once again become a topic of discussion in the Cypriot Parliament. At a meeting of the Transport Committee on November 5, 2026, Transport Minister Evi Tsolaki confirmed that the government intends to transfer management of both areas to the Cyprus Ports Authority.
However, lawmakers and local government representatives believe that promises alone are not enough: the city needs concrete solutions and clear timelines.
What Is Planned for the Port and Marina of Larnaca
According to the government’s plan, the Cyprus Ports Authority is to take over management of the port, the marina, and the adjacent land parcels. The project envisages several key changes:
modernization of the port, which will serve tourist vessels and commercial cargo;
upgrading equipment used to handle cargo that causes inconvenience to residents, including noise and pollution;
expansion of the marina to accommodate approximately 200 yachts and other vessels;
the development of the adjacent area, covering at least 50,000 m², for urban needs;
improving the waterfront and creating a pleasant public space.
In July 2026, the Port Authority presented a preliminary development plan for the port and marina. The total cost of the project is estimated at approximately 415 million euros. The program is scheduled to run through 2045. The preliminary budget breakdown is as follows:
approximately 205 million euros — modernization and expansion of the port;
approximately 190 million euros — development of the marina area and adjacent plots;
approximately 20 million euros — renovation of the marina itself.
The work is planned to be carried out in phases. The first steps to improve the area and relocate the shipbuilding sites are scheduled to begin in 2027. More extensive development of the marina is planned through 2036, while the port’s modernization will continue through 2045.
Why the project has not yet moved forward
The main problem relates to the legal formalities involved in transferring the marina to the Cyprus Ports Authority.
The port itself already belongs to the Ports Authority. However, in order to transfer ownership and management of the marina to the Authority, existing regulations must be amended.
Transport Minister Evi Tsolaki reported that a draft of the new regulations has already been prepared. But before it can be submitted to the government and Parliament for consideration, several steps must be taken:
conduct a public consultation;
have the documents undergo legal and technical review;
obtain approval from the State Aid Control Commissioner;
submit the amendments for approval by the Council of Ministers and then by Parliament.
The government expects to complete the preparations and submit the necessary documents to Parliament by the end of 2026. The public consultation period is planned to be shortened to prevent further delays.
The legal dispute with the project’s former operator, Kition Ocean Holdings, raises additional questions. The contract with the company was terminated on May 27, 2024. Following this, management of the port was temporarily returned to the Ports Administration, while the marina came under the management of the Ministry of Transportation.
According to reports on the dispute, Kition is demanding €37,707,696 from the state as compensation for the termination of the contract, which the company considers unlawful. The government does not recognize these claims. Members of Parliament fear that further legal proceedings could affect the new project. However, a representative of the Legal Service explained that the potential consequences of such a lawsuit for the marina’s development were not specifically addressed in the previously submitted opinion.
What the Larnaca authorities and lawmakers are saying
Larnaca Mayor Andreas Viras stated that local authorities will only feel more at ease about the situation once the necessary changes are officially submitted to Parliament for discussion and approved. According to him, after years of delays, the city’s residents are not waiting for new promises, but for real action.
A decision was also made to combine the procedures related to the marina’s development and the operation of the Yacht Club to avoid holding several separate tenders for the same area.
Zinonas Apostolou, Chairman of the Cyprus Ports Authority, confirmed that the working group continues to work on the project. In addition, the necessary funds for the projects in Larnaca have been included in the organization’s 2027 budget. According to him, once the legal procedures are completed, no deviations from the established schedule are expected.
However, concerns remain not only regarding the timeline but also the fate of the employees. Union representatives have demanded protection for approximately 50 employees who were transferred to another entity following the termination of their contract with Kition. They insist that the change in the managing organization must not result in job losses.
Lawmakers also expressed dissatisfaction that a legal opinion with redacted sections was presented to Parliament. Some demanded a further review to determine whether legal disputes with Kition could create new obstacles for the project.
Sotiris Ioannou, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Transportation, stated that the necessary changes are expected to be considered on a priority basis. The next meeting on the development of the port and marina is expected in mid-December or early January.