Limassol Marina
| Limassol Marina | |
|---|---|
 Panoramic view of Limassol Marina, 2017 | |
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Location | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Coordinates | 34°40′19″N 33°02′28″E / 34.6720°N 33.0410°ECoordinates: 34°40′19″N 33°02′28″E / 34.6720°N 33.0410°E Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed. |
| Completed | 2021 |
| Cost | ~EUR 357 million |
| Owner | Limassol Marina Ltd. (LML) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Atelier Xavier Bohl; A.F. Modinos & S.A. Vrahimis Architects |
| Developer | Cybarco Development (Lanitis Group) |
| Website | |
| limassolmarina | |
The Limassol Marina is a superyacht marina and integrated waterfront development located in the city centre of Limassol, on the southern coast of Cyprus. It is the first full-service superyacht marina on the island and an official port of entry into the European Union.[1] The marina offers 650 berths for vessels ranging from 8 to 110 metres in length, alongside a residential and commercial complex of villas, apartments, restaurants, shops, and leisure facilities.[1] It holds the 5 Gold Anchor Platinum Award from The Yacht Harbour Association, one of only a handful of marinas worldwide to have received this distinction, as well as Blue Flag status for environmental management.[2]
History
Planning and contracts
The Cypriot government first invited international tenders for the construction of marinas across the island under the Build-operate-transfer (BOT) method in 2003.[3] The contracts for the Limassol Marina were signed in February 2008 by Trade, Industry and Tourism Minister Antonis Michaelides and Marios Lanitis on behalf of the consortium. At the time, the project was estimated to cost EUR 170 million and was expected to be completed within three years.[4]
Final contracts were signed in January 2010 with Limassol Marina Ltd. (LML), a joint venture comprising J&P Avax A.E., Cybarco, Francoudi & Stefanou, Joannou & Paraskevaides, Athena ATE, Cads Holding Ltd., and the Limassol CCI via the Limassol Marina Development Company. Under the BOT agreement, LML manages the marina for 53 years and retains profit rights for a further 37 years.[5]
Construction and opening
Construction officially commenced in January 2010, transforming what had been an area of disused warehouses and shipyards surrounding an old fishing shelter into a modern waterfront destination.[6] Approximately 500 people were employed during construction and nearly double that number during operation.[7] The marina welcomed its first residents in early 2013 with the delivery of 94 luxury apartments at the Nereids Residences complex, having achieved property sales exceeding EUR 86 million by that point.[8] The first yachts arrived in May 2013, and the marina was officially opened in June 2014 by President Nicos Anastasiades, who described the project as one that would place Cyprus on the map for quality tourism.[9] The marina's masterplan was designed by the French firm Atelier Xavier Bohl, in association with Sogreah Cyprus Limited and local architects A.F. Modinos & S.A. Vrahimis.[10] The architectural style drew from elements of the nearby Limassol old town, incorporating traditional features such as red roof tiles and natural limestone to give the complex its distinctive ochre hue while maintaining a sense of minimalism.[7] Bohl's design was reportedly influenced by the Marina of Monte Carlo in Monaco and Port Grimaud in Saint-Tropez.[9] The site adjacent to the old port and the medieval castle was chosen for its proximity to the historic city centre.[11]
The project reached full completion in June 2021 with the delivery of the Castle Residences apartments situated on a private island within the marina complex, eleven years after the start of construction. By that point, property sales had surpassed EUR 500 million, with buyers from 50 nationalities, and over 90% of the 285 residential units had been sold.[12] The total investment in the project was estimated at approximately EUR 357 million, covering a land area of 100,000 m2 and a sea area of 174,000 m2.[13]
Facilities
The marina comprises 650 berths across 11 piers (A through K), including 22 dedicated superyacht berths for vessels between 40 and 120 metres. The harbour is protected by a 1,200-metre breakwater, and water depth ranges from 4.5 to 6.0 metres. Shore power of up to 1,000 amperes at 400 volts is available, with fibre optic connectivity provided to each berth.[14]
Technical shore facilities include a boatyard for light repairs and maintenance served by a 100-ton travel lift, a 40-ton hydraulic boat mover, and a slipway. Two floating dry-docks with a combined capacity of up to 15,000 tons are located within one nautical mile of the marina. Service agents for all major international engine brands, including Caterpillar, MTU, and MAN, are represented locally.[15]
The marina's commercial and residential areas include waterfront restaurants, cafes, designer boutiques and shops, a spa and fitness club, a sandy beach, a helipad, a cultural centre, and parking for 750 vehicles. The residential component consists of exclusive villas (including the Castle Residences and Island Villas on a private island, Peninsula Villas, and several apartment complexes), some with their own private yacht berths or direct beach access.[1][9]
Operation and management
Limassol Marina is operated and managed by Francoudi & Stephanou (F&S) Marinas, combining local Cypriot expertise with international standards. The marina was previously managed in a partnership between Camper & Nicholsons Marinas and F&S Marinas.[15][16] General manager Nikiforos Pampakas has described the project as proof that "when there is vision, an appetite for hard work and strategic planning, even the most difficult goals can be achieved".[12] The property development and exclusive residential sales are handled by Cybarco Development, a subsidiary of the Lanitis Group.[1]
Tom Lord, the marina's operations manager, has emphasised the development's role in establishing Cyprus as a superyacht hub in the eastern Mediterranean, noting that as an EU port of entry, Limassol Marina offers a convenient stop for vessels transiting the Suez Canal, analogous to Gibraltar's role in the western Mediterranean.[17]
Awards and recognition
Limassol Marina holds the 5 Gold Anchor Platinum Award from The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA), the highest distinction for marina quality globally, making it one of only five marinas in the world to receive this accolade. It has been awarded Blue Flag status for five consecutive years in recognition of environmental management and sustainable development. The marina also holds ISO certifications for Environmental Management (ISO 14001), Quality Management (ISO 9001), and Health & Safety Management (ISO 45001), as well as the International Clean Marinas Award and the Superyacht Ready flag.[15][14]
Since opening, the marina has welcomed over 9,000 international yacht arrivals, including more than 300 unique superyachts, with the largest measuring 143 metres.[15] Notable early visitors included the 99 m M/Y Madame Gu, the 97 m M/Y Carinthia VII, and the 88 m M/Y Nirvana in 2015.[18]
In 2021, the marina was ranked sixth among the world's most Instagrammed marinas by Comparethemarket.com, ahead of the Montauk Yacht Club in New York and Porto Hercules in Monaco.[19] That same year, the marina received three awards at the Cyprus Construction Awards, including a Gold award for Coastal and Marine Structures and Silver awards for Best Residential Apartment Block (Castle Residences) and Best F&B Premises.[20]
10th anniversary
Limassol Marina celebrated its 10th anniversary in September 2024, marking a decade of operation since its 2014 public opening. By that milestone, contracts for residential properties had reached nearly EUR 600 million, with over 96% of properties sold to buyers from more than 50 nationalities. The marina had welcomed over 20 million visitors, 10,000 yachts, and 400 superyachts, and was home to over 500 annual berth holders. The anniversary was accompanied by a rebranding the marina's evolution from a yacht harbour into a full lifestyle destination.[21]
Events
Since 2016, Limassol Marina has hosted the annual Limassol Boat Show, organised by Dacor Advertising & Media Ltd. and Limassol Marina Ltd. Described as the largest boat show in the Eastern Mediterranean, the event attracts over 35,000 visitors and more than 120 exhibitors from across Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The show features yachts from tenders to superyachts, as well as watersports equipment, diving products, and industry services.[22] In 2025, the marina co-organised Cyprus's first coastal regatta, a yacht race from Limassol to Ayia Napa Marina.[23]
Gallery
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The waterfront dining and shopping promenade, 2014 -
Yachts berthed at the marina, 2017 -
Exness building next to the marina, 2017 -
The marina promenade at night -
Illuminate Marina at night
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Limassol Marina". Cybarco. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Limassol Marina: An Anchor for the Luxury Shipping Industry". Aspen Trust Group. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Scant interest for marina development". Cyprus Mail. June 26, 2003. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Contracts for Limassol marina signed". Cyprus Property News. February 2, 2008. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Final contracts for Limassol marina signed". Cyprus Property News. January 26, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Construction for new Limassol marina in Cyprus starts". Financial Mirror. January 28, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Architecture Award for Limassol Marina". Stockwatch. March 22, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Cyprus: Limassol Marina welcomes first residents". Financial Mirror. February 8, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Limassol marina open for business". Cyprus Property News. June 20, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Limassol Marina delivers final luxury units". Financial Mirror. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Μαρίνα Λεμεσού". Municipality of Limassol (in Ελληνικά). Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Limassol Marina: The flagship project has been completed". Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry. July 4, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "How Are Projects Of Largest Marinas In Cyprus Progressing?". DOM Real Estate. January 23, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Limassol Marina". F&S Marinas. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 "From Vision to Reality: The marina development that's changed both Limassol and the yachting industry in Cyprus". All at Sea. June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Limassol Marina in Cyprus opens for superyachts". Boat International. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "The eastern yachting hub". SuperyachtNews. May 16, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Cyprus boosts its credentials with Limassol Marina". SuperyachtNews. December 14, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Limassol Marina among world's most photoed". Financial Mirror. October 29, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Limassol Marina shines at 2021 Cyprus Construction Awards". Cyprus Mail. November 4, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "10 years together on the sea". Cyprus Mail. September 23, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Limassol Boat Show set to dazzle with impressive lineup". Cyprus Mail. May 22, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Limassol Marina, Ayia Napa Marina to hold island's first coastal regatta". Cyprus Mail. March 31, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
External links
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