The second, in magnitude, port of our country and it is situated in the southeastern part of Cyprus.

     Until 1973 the port of Larnaca was operating as a roadstead with inadequate port facilities which the town offered in the area where today lays the Marina i.e. at the town center. With the exception of the oil products, the port had served up to that time very little trade traffic and its storage space was quite small and unsuitable.

     In its present form, Larnaca port is situated approximately 2 km from the town center and on the landside is surrounded by residential units. On the north side there are oil product installations and at the south side it borders with Larnaca marina.

     An advantage for the port is the fact that at a distance of 6 kilometers lays Larnaca International Airport.

     The new Larnaca port was completed in June 1973 and was initially intended to share with Famagusta port its inland area and supplement the latter. It commenced operation at the end of 1973.

     Today it is a multipurpose port having an area of 445.000 sq. meters and serves all kinds of loads from unpacked (animal fodder, grain, gypsum), conventional (lumber, iron, fertilizers, automobiles) as well as oil products.

     The subject of further development of Larnaca port has seriously preoccupied the Authority over the last few years. Following various studies carried out, it has been decided to convert it to the main port for cruise lines and passenger traffic with certain trade activities covering local cargoes and needs. Since, at the same time the Government is promoting the idea of developing the Larnaca marina, the Government decided to seek a strategic partner for the development of the port and of Larnaca marina, under the B.D.F.O. method, since both projects have serious synergies as regards the land area. Tenders have been invited and the goal is to proceed with adjudication to the successful tenderer in December 2007.

     As already mentioned the port commenced operation, at its new installations, towards the end of 1973, but due to restricted quay space and lack of suitable mechanical equipment and due to other reasons, the port was sluggishly operating and its cargoes were restricted basically to the export of potatoes and cement.

     The length of the quays were 326m at the time with a depth of 9.5m and accepted ships of up to 152m in length and having a draught of 9m. The port had at its disposal two tug boats of 750 and 650 horse power.

     However, between 1976 and 1979 with the installations of two floating pontoons the length quays was increased by 60% to 526m. An open storage space of 50.000 sq. m was also created and the mechanical equipment was supplemented with the installation of a crane on rails having a lifting power of 35 tons and with other mobile cranes and fork lifts for the stacking of containers.

     Thus in 1978, Larnaca port started handling containers as well as other heavy loads in addition to the general cargo.

     The next phase of expansion of Larnaca port was the result of the Authority’s development programme for 1979 -1982 when the installations at Larnaca were increased to 3 fold as compared with 1973 both from the point of view of quay length as well as from the point of view of closed and open storage space.

     The new quay added a length of 340m to the mole and included a ramp enabling ships of ro-ro type to come alongside.

     Larnaca port is protected by two breakwaters the North and the South.

     It has two quays for the mooring of ships:

     (a) South quay of length 340m, water depth 12m and equipped with two gantry cranes of 40 tons, 1 crane on rails of 45 tons as well as a ramp of 25m width suitable for ro-ro ships.
     (b) North quay 326m, water depth 10m and equipped with crane on rails (Luffing Crane) of 35 tons able to serve loads 150m to the western part of the quay.

     Over the whole length of both quays there are installations for water supply to the ships. For ships at the roadstead, drinking water may be supplied by means of private barges.

     At the port there are three closed warehouses, two of which are located at the north quay each having an area of 3170sq. m and one at the south quay of the order of 11.500 sq. m.

     There are also paved open storage spaces of the order of 150.000 sq. m as well as non-paved spaces of the order of 65.000sq. m.

     Within the fenced area of the port there is also the Administration Building of the Authority, the Modern Passenger Terminal of the Authority, the Workshop for Repairs of the mechanical equipment of the Authority, as well as the Accessories Store.

     The port has at its disposal 3 tug boats of 600, 1300 and 3500 Brake Horse Power for serving the ships as well as 2 pilot boats for transporting the pilots.

     The Ports Authority employs at Larnaca Port 71 people who on the basis of their qualifications and specialization are divided into the following categories:

• Pilot Service (Pilots………….etc)
• Store Section (Port Officials)
• Technical Services (People specialized in the branches of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering/Architecture)
• Health and Safety Service
• Cranes Drivers
• Clerical Service
• Accounting
• Security Guards
• Cleaners and drivers

     Port Users

     Apart from the Cyprus Ports Authority, some other Government Services are working in the port Area such as:

• Customs and Excise Department
• Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism
• Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment
• Port and Nautical Service Police Force
• Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance
• Sanitary Service of the Ministry of Health

     In addition the following work at the Port:

• Porter’s Association
• Cyprus Shipping Agents Association
• Transporter’s Association
• Luggage Carriers
• Tourist Agents
• Water Supply Board

     There is a possibility of refueling (bunkering) of ships, as well as of refuse and sewage removal from ships by means of tankers and barges from within the port or by means of special barges, belonging to public companies licensed by the Authority, from the roadstead.

     There is also e possibility of small repairs to mechanical, electrical and electronic (radar, VHF etc) equipment of ships by public Companies.

     North of the roadstead there are private installations for mooring/unloading of oil-tankers for the import of petroleum products (Mobil, BP, and Petrolina) as well as Liquid Petroleum Gases (LPG).

     The port also provides a refuse collection service made available by the Authority itself.
 

     Port Security

     In accordance with EU directives and the Schengen Treaty, as well as the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), the Authority has proceeded to the following measures at Larnaca Port:

• Checking and control of entry/exit to the Port by Security Guard on a 24 hour basis, seven days a week.
• The control of people entering the port area is done via entry cards issued by the Authority.
• A closed circuit surveillance system has been installed at the port’s entrance, which monitors and records on video tape. The installation of a closed circuit surveillance system monitoring the whole port area and the fence, are at the development process (second phase).
• Installation of a ‘’hot’’ telephone line between the port’s entrance and the Port Police Station.
• Reinforcement of the fence of the port area.
• For port security purposes there are frequent patrols by Security Guards and by members of the Port and Nautical Police Force.
• The authority has appointed a responsible official for the port’s security, who is in charge of the Security Guards.

     Scheduled Projects

     The Authority will augment the mechanical equipment of the port, with the purchase of a new mobile crane which will be used basically for general loads as well as containers of limited strength.

     Upgrading of one of the two gantry cranes i.e. increase of its hoisting height and extension of its outreach so that it conforms with the existing two Post Panamax located at Lemesos Port where it was finally agreed that the two from Larnaca port will be transferred.

Source: CPA