Newsroom
Boat owners at Larnaca Marina are gearing up for a protest to voice their frustration over rising mooring fees. The Association of Owners of Moored Boats in Larnaca Marina, in collaboration with professional Coastguards in the area, is planning a warning protest that will temporarily close the marina and port. The demonstration aims to draw attention to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding docking fees.
The issue began after recent statements made by Alexis Vafeadi, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, regarding the future of the marina's mooring charges. Speaking after a meeting with the Mayor of Larnaca and the Ad Hoc Committee for the Development of the city, Vafeadi described the docking fees as a matter to be decided by a variety of parties, including the Ad Hoc Committee and the marina's new manager. However, the Association of Boat Owners has expressed deep concern over the lack of clarity in these statements, calling them "extremely worrying, general, and vague."
According to the Association, the Transport Minister has previously shifted responsibility for the docking fees between various groups, including investors, the “society,” the Parliament, and now the Ad Hoc Committee. The boat owners argue that, under current law, the decision on mooring fees falls squarely with the Minister of Transport, and they are demanding the immediate reinstatement of state-set docking fees and other projects at the marina.
In their statement, the Association also emphasized the need to be involved in any future discussions about setting new fees, particularly if a new manager is appointed for Larnaca Marina. They recalled that the last time the docking fees were discussed with the investor, they ended up seeing an increase of more than 50%.
The boat owners are concerned that continued uncertainty over the fees will lead to further hikes, and they fear that discussions involving the Ad Hoc Committee and the new manager might not yield satisfactory results. As a result, they have announced their intention to proceed with the planned protest, which will involve the closure of the port and marina on a date to be announced soon.
The protest is designed to be a "warning" event, aimed at getting the attention of both local authorities and the public, as boat owners push for more transparency and a fair resolution to the ongoing issue of docking fees at Larnaca Marina.
