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- Русский
It is with great pleasure that I participate in tonight's event of the Cyprus Ports Authority, which is celebrating 50 years of sailing and voyages. It has been a voyage that has not always been accompanied by a fair wind. However, despite the obstacles, the Ports Authority managed to conquer the "port of firsts" and its journey did not become endless, like the odyssey, but was a journey towards knowledge, evolution and development.
And because tonight's event is an anniversary event, allow me a brief historical review of this 50-year journey, which, you understand, is directly intertwined with the history of Ports in our country.
The Ports Authority was established in 1973 by Law 38/1973, as a result of a specific condition of the loan granted in 1969 by the International Development and Reconstruction Bank to the Republic of Cyprus, in order for the Authority to operate as an autonomous organisation. Unfortunately, however, the Turkish invasion of 1974 halted the Authority's upward trend, depriving it of its most important port, that of Famagusta, where its headquarters were located.
Most of you, I imagine, know the historical events connected with the tugs Othello and Onisilos, which were based in 1974 in the occupied port of Famagusta, which were rescued in August 1974, with the sacrifice of the people of the then Ports Department, transferring them to Limassol Port, in the midst of Turkish fire. In the midst of the hostilities for the occupation of Famagusta, the personnel manning the tugboat Othello, on the orders of the then Port Authority of Famagusta, George Mavroyiagou, transferred the tugboat Othello together with the second tugboat, Onisilos, to a safe place in the port of Limassol, while rescuing the soldiers of the National Guard who were manning the Lighthouse of the port of Famagusta.
Two years after the Turkish invasion, the Authority assumes all its statutory responsibilities, the first Director General is appointed and staffed with the minimum necessary personnel. Although the operational structure of the Authority changed, with the loss of the three important ports of Famagusta, Kyrenia and Karavostasi, it managed to adapt quickly to the new circumstances. The facilities of the ports of Larnaca and Limassol were gradually developed and, as a result, our ports deservedly earned an important place in the international and regional port activity.
Thus, the Port of Limassol started to operate as a multipurpose port from 1974. Since 1977, when the Port Authority started to operate normally, major development projects have been carried out at the Port of Limassol. By 1982, the expansion of the port was completed, making it one of the most important ports in the region.
There were various periods of development such as 1993-1996, followed by 2008 and onwards and the new Limassol Port became the most commercial port in Cyprus offering all kinds of services, including ship handling, cargo and passenger handling.
Following the recently signed agreement and the concession of the port to a private company, the Authority continued its business activities in the port of Larnaca, while investing in a large part of the port of Limassol, exploiting the Moni anchorage, the port of Paphos, the port of Latsios, the port of Vasilikos/Zygios and of course the old port of Limassol which is the jewel of the Authority.
As for the second most commercial port in Cyprus, the port of Larnaca, which operated as an open anchorage until 1973, the plan was to share the hinterland of the port of Famagusta and complement the port of the city. However, due to the loss of Famagusta harbour, further development occurred in the port, such as the construction of warehouses, the construction of the passenger hall, and many other activities. In April 2022, the operation and management of the Port of Larnaca was awarded to a private company.
The Authority has under its supervision all other ports in Cyprus and my presence here today to celebrate 50 years of the Authority is a recognition of the important work done over these 50 years and the important work you have to do in the future.
In closing, I would like to say that the Cyprus Ports Authority is a viable and financially sound organisation. The Authority has established a marginally surplus budget for 2023 and this, of course, has been achieved through the proper utilization of the resources and the spaces under its ownership and management.
At the same time, the Port Authority continues its qualitative upgrade in order to become a modern organisation that with dedication, knowledge, commitment, openness, extroversion and good management will be able to face the continuous and multiple challenges presented in a rapidly changing operational and business environment.
Undoubtedly, the Ports Authority in this 50-year journey has managed not only to be sustainable, but to be steadily growing, so that today it is one of the most powerful Organizations of the Republic of Cyprus, one of the Organizations of the State of which we are particularly proud.
We therefore continue on this journey, with positive buoyancy, for another 50 years of sailing, setting new development plans and new projects.
(PM/IS)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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