A decisive week lies ahead for the future of the Limassol Karnagio, after the Department of Lands and Surveys issued a formal notice ordering the demolition and removal of all structures within 30 days. The order was posted on 28 November on-site, reportedly in the presence of a strong police force due to fears of protests, leaving long-established boatbuilding businesses blindsided.
The Municipality of Limassol and the shipwrights are expected to meet tomorrow alongside their legal representatives to discuss next steps in light of the government’s ultimatum.
Government order with no prior consultation
The notice instructs businesses to “demolish, vacate and remove all structures, buildings, sheds and objects maintained illegally on state land.” It warns that failure to comply will result in legal action for eviction and recovery of outstanding dues. The state’s move was taken without prior dialogue with the craftsmen, many of whom have operated at the site for decades.
The notice also references specific state plots affected and states that the area “has been illegally filled,” referring to land reclamation works carried out over the years by shipwrights to protect vessels and expand their working space.
Redevelopment pressures on Aktaia Road
Debate over relocating the Karnagio has intensified in recent years due to major redevelopment plans along Aktaia Road. The Municipality has long expressed its intention to create a seafront pedestrian zone with public beach access, arguing that boatyards are incompatible with the envisioned uses. A pilot project is already in place, including temporary pedestrian and cycling lanes and extensive clean-up operations.
Behind the Karnagio, massive private developments are in the pipeline. According to the local area plan, building heights of up to 30 floors and 120 metres are permitted, with a building coefficient of 300 percent.
At the same time, many Limassolians view the Karnagio as part of the city’s cultural heritage and maritime identity, calling for its regulation rather than removal.
Six decades of uncertainty
The shipyards relocated to their current location in the late 1950s, when authorities asked craftsmen to leave Akti Olympion to make way for the area’s redevelopment. At the time, Aktaia Road was an industrial zone hosting slaughterhouses, wineries and a brick factory.
Since then, the state has never formalised the tenure of the businesses. Despite operating on state land without written agreements or leases, the workshops have been connected for decades to electricity and water networks and have paid municipal business taxes.
Dispute between Interior Ministry and Municipality
Correspondence from last year shows that the Municipality had asked the Interior Ministry for a timeline for relocation, but the ministry responded that no such timetable was possible. It cited Legal Service opinion stating that the Republic of Cyprus has no obligation to find an alternative site or pay compensation for removal from the state plots.
The state has since taken a firmer stance, insisting on clearing the area without committing to a relocation plan.
Mediation attempt by the Municipality
The Municipality remains in ongoing contact with the shipwrights and has attempted to mediate. According to information received by Politis, the mayor has suggested a possible alternative site at the western edge of the Limassol port. The idea has been shared with the craftsmen but remains at an early stage, with no formal commitment or feasibility assessment.
The central government, meanwhile, appears entirely absent from discussions, maintaining that it has no responsibility to identify or fund a new site.
Legal battle looms
The shipwrights have appointed legal counsel and are preparing to challenge the eviction in court. They argue that relocation is unrealistic and maintain that the Karnagio can coexist with redevelopment if properly regulated. Should relocation become unavoidable, they insist that the state and municipality must secure a suitable seafront space equipped for their operations.
Tomorrow’s meeting between the Municipality and the shipwrights, attended also by legal teams, will attempt to chart a path forward. For now, uncertainty dominates as a dispute rooted in six decades of state inaction moves toward the courts.