Larnaca port faces serious inadequate service conditions, sparking fierce reactions from animal feed importers who warn of dangers from operational collapse affecting the supply chain and local economy.
In a letter to Transport Ministry Director General Marina Ioannou Hasapi, copied to Transport Minister Alexis Vafeadis, importers express intense indignation over the “tragic situation” at the port, attributing responsibility to insufficient Cyprus Ports Authority staffing following Kition company’s departure.
Giorgos Katodritis, representing AGS Agrotrading Ltd and animal feed importers, states the situation has reached crisis point, with only two crane operators available today to staff five Ports Authority cranes requiring 20 people for full operation across two shifts.
Instead, the Authority must resort to private crane operators with limited capabilities and increased costs, causing significant ship unloading delays. These delay costs transfer to importers, who pay compensation of approximately $5,000 daily to shipowners.
Staffing shortfall creates operational chaos
“We wish to express our intense indignation and deep concern about the tragic situation prevailing at Larnaca port regarding ship and cargo service, as a direct consequence of insufficient Cyprus Ports Authority staffing,” the importers state.
Since Kition’s departure, they add, the situation has deteriorated significantly. “We have repeatedly made efforts to explain to the ministry’s political leadership the need to allow the Ports Authority to proceed with staff recruitment to meet the port’s basic operational needs. Despite this, we constantly face refusal, indifference and incomprehensible inaction”.
According to Katodritis, “The absence of basic operational adequacy leads to delays, losses, user frustration and devaluation of Larnaca as a port destination”.
Privatisation suspicions raised
The importers raise a serious issue in their letter: suspicion that continued port operation devaluation is deliberate, aimed at creating a climate of Ports Authority failure to pave the way for new privatisation.
“If this is the goal, then it constitutes the gravest political and administrative responsibility that cannot and will not remain unanswered,” they state.
Emergency measures announced
Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Nakis Antoniou told Phileleftheros that interventions with the Transport Ministry appear to be gradually yielding results.
From 1 September 2025, the crane operator trainer returns to the port through ANETEL employment, whilst crane operator employment continues through service purchasing from the same Development company.
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeadis confirmed that following Larnaca Chamber representations, ministry directions were given to ANETEL for purchasing crane operator services as an immediate problem-solving measure.
“We fully understand the situation’s seriousness and proceeded with coordinated actions for immediate port operation enhancement,” Vafeadis stated.
Technical breakdown reveals scale of crisis
The letter details that crane shortage makes it impossible to staff Ports Authority cranes and unloading equipment:
- Each machine requires two crane operators per shift for eight hours continuous operation
- Two daily shifts operate (07:00-15:00 & 15:00-23:00)
- The Ports Authority has five machines, requiring 20 crane operators for full operation
- Only two crane operators are currently available
After Kition’s departure, five crane operators were hired through ANETEL, but some left whilst another is on unpaid leave, leaving only four, with just two operationally available.
This leads to partial operation of only two machines for two hours per cycle, followed by 1.5-hour breaks, whilst evening shifts are uncovered entirely. Kition had nine crane operators, confirming the problem’s seriousness.
The Authority resorts to private crane operators with serious limitations: only 2-3 suitable cranes, low unloading rates of 1,000-1,200 tonnes per shift instead of 2,500-3,500 tonnes with Authority machines, and high costs of €2.50 per tonne.