The Cyprus Ports Authority has submitted for review to the Cyprus Department of Environment a plan for the modernization and expansion of Latchi Port (including an Environmental Impact Assessment and an Environmental Assessment), which is located on the north-western coast of the island. The project involves increasing the harbor’s capacity to more than 500 vessels, including fishing boats and leisure yachts.
The total reconstruction budget is estimated at €41.5 million and will be fully financed from the funds of the Cyprus Ports Authority. The implementation of the project is considered strategically important for the development of the Polis–Latchi region, which is actively developing as a tourist and yachting destination.
Public consultation and environmental oversight
To form an objective position on the project, the Department of Environment has put the environmental assessment up for public consultation, which will run until February 7. This gives local residents, environmental organizations, and the professional community the opportunity to express their comments or suggestions. In parallel, the Ports Authority informed the public through publications in local media.
According to representatives of the authority, special attention is being paid to the preservation of marine ecosystems and the free circulation of water in the coastal zone, which is particularly relevant for Latchi, where issues of the environmental sustainability of port facilities have previously been raised.
What will change at Latchi Port
According to the submitted materials, today Latchi Port is designed for approximately 350 vessels and serves not only private yachts, but also the fishing fleet, port police vessels, and small cruise ships. After the expansion, the harbor will gain additional capacity for almost another 200 vessels up to 40 m in length, which will significantly strengthen its role on the yachting map of Cyprus.
The project provides for the expansion of the port in the northern and eastern directions with access to the sea, the creation of a new protected water area, as well as the formation of additional onshore territories. The new infrastructure will be oriented primarily toward private recreational vessels, while the existing water area will retain its importance for local fishermen and tourist operators.
Infrastructure designed for decades
The service life of the upgraded port is defined as 50 years in accordance with British engineering standards applied to port structures. Each mooring area will be provided with electricity and water supply, as well as access to modern services. The project also includes solutions for the reception of wastewater and oil-containing residues from vessels, which complies with current EU environmental requirements.
Special attention has been given to protecting the harbor from waves and storms. New breakwaters have been designed taking into account archaeological finds in the western part of the port and the features of the coastline, in order to ensure safe mooring of vessels for most of the year.
New buildings and coastal zone development
On the newly created onshore plots, it is planned in the future to place buildings with a total area of about 4.5 thousand m2. These may include port administrative offices, catering facilities, retail premises, and recreational areas. At the same time, architectural solutions for these buildings will be determined separately through a special competition, and their construction will become an independent project.
The authorities emphasize that the modernization of Latchi Port will be an important step for the sustainable development of the region, will increase its investment attractiveness, and will strengthen Cyprus’s position as one of the leading centers of yachting tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is expected that the start of construction work may be scheduled after the completion of all approvals and environmental procedures, tentatively in the coming years.