I have read the article “Cyprus can’t compete with its maritime neighbours” In “Cyprus Mail ” 12/2/2009 . As I consider the message of the article an unfounded threat to the effort to open “doors” to the sea and increasing social maritime awareness, I shall be more than grateful if you would allow me to point out the following:

Marinas may not be “THE way of the future” however marinas, yachting shelters and public Accesses as Nautical Islanding infrastructure, are indeed ONE of the many ways of the future!. Contrary to the article, no knowledgeable person in Cyprus ever believed that filling the 300 kilometres under the control of the European Union with marinas is a “magic bullet”! .

Ancient Greeks had a very relevant say: “METRON ARISTON” and In the case of the Island of Cyprus there is an immense imbalance and lack of “metron Ariston” between Cypriot and non-Cypriot Boating vis a vis safe available Boating space. In strict technical terms there are no marinas in Cyprus. We have two “Yacht Harbours” (Not marinas, not quite!) with 680 spaces (land and sea together), 10 fishing shelters with just about 1000 shallow water spaces, 500 hard-standing positions (boat-on-trailers on land). Limassol, Paphos and Vasilikos ports host about 300 spaces and that brings us to a total of hardly 2.480 spaces.

The last count of local Cypriot vessels measured by aero-photography on a single day of maximum boating activity (summer) in 1999 indicated that we had approximately 3678 leisure motor vessels of all kinds and types.( over 1000 “homeless” vessels in backyards, empty fields, garages and “dry marinas”!!). According to the records of the Department of Merchant shipping in Limassol for the years 2003-2008 there is an average annual increase on small engine propelled leisure vessel numbers of 15% per year!! (in real numbers 400 boats per year) and that is ONLY LOCAL DEMAND!. Larnaca Marina rejects foreign applications for a berth since and before 1990 at a rate of approximately 137 LOA13-14 metres sailing yachts and approximately 7 super yachts per annum.

This is excluding the annual rejections recorded by St.Raphael marina in Limassol. The general demand pressure in the entire Mediterranean basin is conspicuously shown in French scientific monitoring, somewhere in the region of 6,5 million boats for 1,5 million spaces! I am sorry to observe that the author has adapted the Turkish army and the Turkish Government point of view by stating that “The coast of the Republic of Cyprus is predominately south and west facing; only a small section faces north in Morphou Bay and five miles faces east, south of Famagusta.”

He should have made it very clear that the Coast of the Republic of Cyprus is predominately North and South facing, HOWEVER due to the fact that only 32% is under the control of the European Union therefore this 300 kilometres of coast under the control of the European Union (The Government of Cyprus) is “predominately south and west facing”.

The insurance issue as regards “war-zones” did also exist one and a half year after the Turkish invasion in Cyprus followed by the Lebanese crisis etc, etc. It has been proven that this never actually affected -to a measurable extend-, the extreme demand pressure. As Larnaca marina commenced operation in early June 1976, by 1980 ( less than 4 years) this super-saturated marina urgently needed to expand and by 1987 Bertlin & Partners completed the design for an increase from 400 spaces to 700 to 800 spaces. (which never materialized for reasons of complete absence of maritime conscience in the minds of the decision makers).

In Latsi 80 new floating spaces were filled before the contractors left the site! Some of the numerous arguments presented in the article for example of what Rod Heikkels-Imrays “Turkish waters pilot” mentions etc, were probably valid 30 years ago but certainly not now, as Yachtspersons are more well equipped, independent and free navigating around the Med looking for new destinations which are plentiful and those are indeed outside and beyond Rod Heikkels or Imrays pilot books and not necessarily “organised” in the sense that we wish. (Internet has taken the lead!).

The “fleets to come and fill our new marinas” that seem to be invisible to the author, are coming from numerous sources. There is a particular mixture of professionals and Companies engaging personnel and operating in the Eastern Med and beyond. Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, Egypt, Armenia, Russia even as far as the Gulf . Those are seeking berth in Cyprus, each one for a very valid and in many cases pressing reason. The so called by the author “sea gypsies” are of course a very considerable entity, contrary to the impression given, in many cases those may be people with substantial financial resources but have chosen the life style of a “gypsy” and indeed have been contributors to the Cyprus economy and will be again if we offer them a safe berth!

Although I agree with his comments on desalination, again this is a very complicated solution which affects negatively the marine environment. If we continue to pump the saline sludge in sea depths less than 80 or 100 metres, we shall be destroying our poseidonia fields and subsequently our already poor marine life. (“Metron Ariston”!) In Cyprus we do need Marinas. We also need: Yacht Harbours, Yachting shelters, Organised Public accesses (boat launching ramps etc), well designed anchorages and strategically positioned piers and landing jetties. Like everything else in contemporary life, nothing is simple. Cyprus however today, is still “an island without islanders” and since in Cyprus, God has left the job of safe boat-sheltering to us, humans, We must go ahead and fulfill it.

It is NOT only for tourism. It is a social and Governmental obligation! Cyprus can no longer be “the Island without Islanders”. Opening “doors” (nautical infrastructure) to the sea and to the maritime environment shall give new alternatives to our children for sea sports and maritime activities, as well as new professions and skills. Shall contribute to our economy and shall combat seasonality and other tourist problems… provided we follow the doctrine “Metron Ariston” Glafkos Cariolou (22-69-12-12 OR 99-473926) Leonidas str.9. Kyrenia . CYPRUS 13th February 2009.