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The Cyprus Ports Authority has unveiled a €415 million roadmap to revamp the Larnaca port and marina, setting a course that stretches to 2045.
The preliminary budget carries a standard 50% margin of error, but the blueprint breaks down the massive undertaking into three distinct sections managed by both public funds and private capital.
A three-tiered blueprint
The first phase concentrates on the marina’s land zones and nearby real estate, carrying an estimated price tag of €190 million between 2027 and 2036. Early work involves upgrading the current grounds, putting down essential roads, and shifting the existing shipyards away from the marina over to the northern edge of the port. Planners intend to add parks, public areas, and parking lots before opening up the zone to commercial real estate. Private investors will largely back these later additions, which include hotels, retail outlets, a conference center, offices, and dining spaces.
The second tier allocates €20 million over the same decade to upgrade the marina itself. This money will cover routine maintenance on standing structures, new service buildings, and an extension to the southern quay wall.
The largest financial chunk, valued at €205 million, is earmarked for the port itself, with work continuing through 2045. Initial steps focus on network upgrades, purchasing new equipment, and building terminal facilities for passengers and administrative staff. The most disruptive maritime engineering projects, including new quay walls and a redesigned port basin, will wait until the final phase between 2036 and 2045.
Legal hurdles and final timeline
The state intends to keep long-term strategic oversight of the gateway. The Ports Authority will handle the fundamental infrastructure and upkeep, while business and tourist facilities will rely heavily on outside private financing. Technicians expect to lock in the final Master Plan by 2029.
Before construction can begin in earnest, the government must clear several bureaucratic obstacles. Ownership of the coastal land must transfer directly to the Ports Authority, the existing port lease needs to be legally dissolved, and parliament must approve new legislative amendments specifically tailored to the marina's legal status.
Local officials view the plan as a way to position Larnaca as a major maritime and business hub in the Eastern Mediterranean by blending commercial shipping with public spaces and tourism. The phased rollout is designed to keep both the port and the marina fully operational while construction takes place over the next two decades.
