Port Overview
As the principal port in Cyprus, the Port of Limassol (Lemesos) handles 90% of the country’s imports and exports, as well as receiving approximately 80% of its passenger traffic. The port has a modern container terminal with an 800m quay alongside a 7,000m2 passenger terminal. It also has specialized quays to accommodate Ro-Ro, general cargo, and offshore oil and gas project services. The port is the main entry point for pharmaceutical and medical supplies into Cyprus and has dedicated pharmaceutical logistics services.
The port operates through a collaborative framework which enables public oversight combined with specialist expertise through private operators. The port’s oversight is maintained by the Cyprus Ports Authority (CPA) and, following privatisation in 2017, operations are shared between 3 private operators: Eurogate (awarded a 25 year concession), DP World (awarded a 25 year concession), and P&O Maritime (awarded a 15 year concession).
Port website: https://www.cpa.gov.cy/en/new-lemesos-port
Key port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com
and at https://portwatch.imf.org/
Disclaimer: the info provided by the content of the above tool is for general information purposes. Vetting and verification of circumstances at any specific port for any actionable humanitarian decision-making or operational execution is highly advisable.
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Port Location and Contact |
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|---|---|
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Country |
Cyrpus |
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Province or District |
Limassol / Lemesos |
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Nearest Town or City with Distance from Port |
Limassol (within the town limits)
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Port's Complete Name |
Port of Limassol / Limassol New Port / New Lemesos Port |
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Latitude |
34.6666667 |
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Longitude |
33.0333333 |
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Managing Company or Port Authority
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Port Regulator: Cyprus Ports Authority (CPA) Multipurpose and Cruise Terminals: DP World Container Terminal: Eurogate Marine Services: P&O Maritime |
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Management Contact Person |
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Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures |
Larnaca Airport
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Port Picture
Description and Contacts of Key Companies
The Cyprus Ports Authority (CPA) is the port regulator, and customs operations are undertaken by the Department of Customs and Excise.
Port operations are shared between three primary private organisations:
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Eurogate Container Terminal Limassol. Responsible for containerised cargo operations.
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DP World Limassol. Responsible for the multipurpose and the cruise terminals. Its core duties include processing general cargo, break-bulk, and RoRo traffic. It also provides specialised logistics for offshore oil and gas projects.
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P&O Maritime Cyprus Ltd. Manage pilotage and towing services.
For more information on port contacts, please see section 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List
Port Performance
Limassol has a main channel that is dredged to 17m deep and 150m wide. It can accommodate vessels up to 250m in length and with a maximum draft of 14.4-15m.
With a berth occupancy rate of 75%, the port can host, on average, 10-12 vessels at berth with 5-7 waiting at anchorage. At anchorage, the average waiting time before berthing is 2-3 hours, and the average port stay is between 24 and 36 hours.
Annual cargo volume is approximately 4.67 million tonnes and container throughput is 350,000- 418,000 TEUs.
The passenger port can become congested by during the peak tourist season, and this can negatively impact schedule reliability due to the shared port infrastructure.
Seasonal Constraints
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Occurs |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Rainy Season |
No |
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Major Import Campaigns |
No |
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Other Comments |
N/A |
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Handling Figures for 2022 |
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|---|---|
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Vessel Calls |
4000 (average) |
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Container Traffic (TEUs) |
372,000 |
Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges
For information on port rates and charges, please see the following links:
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Cyprus Ports Authority: https://www.cpa.gov.cy/uploads/Xrewseis/00b8c75982.pdf
Berthing Specifications
Conventional Berth (Multipurpose/General Cargo):
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Quantity: 3 main multipurpose quays (North, West, and East).
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Length (m): The North Quay is 430m, the West Quay is 450m, and the East Quay is 480m.
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Maximum Draft (m): the North and East quays are generally 11m, while the West Quay ranges from 11m to 13m (or up to 14m–15m on its southern side).
Container Berth:
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Quantity: There are 2 main berths dedicated to container traffic.
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Length (m): These berths have a combined total quay length of 800m.
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Max Draft (m): The container berths maintain a depth of 16m.
Silo Berth:
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There are not dedicated separate Silo Berths by quantity but the Western Quay is typically used.
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Length (m) / Max Draft (m): These operations typically utilize the Western Quay facilities, which offer a length of 450m and drafts ranging from 11m to 16m depending on the specific section used.
Berthing Tugs:
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There are 3 tugs available at the port.
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Two tugs with 30-35 tons bollard pull and one modern tug (the P&O Kalypso) with 60 tons bollard pull.
Water Barges:
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Fresh water is available by barge at the anchorage.
Port Handling Equipment
Is the port equipment managed by the government or privately? Privately
Eurogate Container Terminal has a dedicated department that manages the maintenance and operation of container cranes, straddle carriers, and energy supply systems. DP World Limassol manages the equipment for the multipurpose terminal, including machinery for general cargo, Ro-Ro, and energy logistics, while P&O Maritime is responsible for marine-specific assets such as tugs and pilot boats.
|
Equipment |
Available
|
Total Quantity and Capacity Available |
Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dockside Crane |
Yes |
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Fixed cranes and ship to shore units. |
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Container Gantries |
Yes |
5 |
1 unit with 13-row outreach (30m height) 2 units with 18-row outreach (33m height) 2 units with 23-row outreach (52m height) |
|
Mobile Cranes |
Yes |
2 |
Mobile Harbor Cranes and a 100tn Telescopic Crane |
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Reachstacker |
Yes |
|
|
|
RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer) |
Yes |
11 |
“Terminal Tractors" at the Eurogate terminal, supported by various trailers and chassis. |
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Transtainer |
No |
0 |
Terminal uses 26 Straddle Carriers (40-ton) for yard stacking rather than Transtainers |
|
Forklifts |
Yes |
Many |
Available in various capacities |
Container Facilities
Eurogate Container Terminal
Eurogate Container Terminal
The container facilities at Limassol Port comprise of a 340,000m2 terminal that includes an 800m quay at a depth of 16m. It has an annual handling capacity of 500,000 TEUs.
Key infrastructure within the terminal include five ship to shore gantry cranes, 26 straddle carriers, and 140 reefer plugs. Stacking capacity is 12,000 TEU.
Customs Guidance
The Department of Customs and Excise at the port is responsible for the inspection of goods and collection of fees. Customs activities are integrated with the National Single Window and the Port Community System (PCS).
Average cargo dwell time typically ranges from 1 to 3 days. Vessel turnaround times are generally between 24 and 36 hours, with an average anchorage wait time of 2 to 3 hours.
Quayside operations function 24/7, gate opening hours for cargo movement are generally Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 18:00 or 19:00.
Specialised GDP compliant cold chain services are available for pharmaceuticals and vaccines. Such shipments require coordination with the Department of Customs and Excise prior to arrival. Failure to do so may result in a fine.
140 reefer plugs exist for temperature-controlled storage and specific reefer services include 24-hour power supply, plugging/unplugging, and constant monitoring of equipment.
CLEARING AGENTS
Clearing agents should be an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO). There are numerous agents operating across Cyprus and at the Port of Limassol. A list can be found here:
https://www.cyprusclearingagents.com/listings/clearing-agents-in-cyprus
For more information on customs in Cyprus, please see section 1.3 Customs Information
Terminal Information
MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL
The port’s multipurpose terminal, exclusively operated by DP World, is Cyprus's primary Ro-Ro hub with a daily processing capacity of 950 vehicles. The three main quays (North, West, and East) are used, along with a dedicated 320m Ro-Ro berth.
The multipurpose terminal spans 300,000 square metres, offering 18,000 square meters of combined open yards and covered warehouses for storage.
GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING
The port’s bulk handling facilities are centred at the multipurpose terminal, which handles a range of dry and liquid bulk, including grains. Dedicated grain silos are situated near the West Quay.
DP World Limassol is the exclusive operator of these facilities, providing a 24/7 dedicated.
MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL
The port offers storage infrastructure shared between DP World’s 300,000 m² multipurpose terminal and Eurogate’s 340,000 m² container terminal. The facilities include 18,000 m² of combined covered warehouses and open yards, along with a 180,500 m² container stacking area.
Medical supplies are subject to standard storage rates and reefer electricity fees where applicable. Storage for medical goods is available within terminal areas licensed by customs as temporary storage facilities, allowing supplies to be held both before and after the customs clearance process.
As a state of the art terminal, within a modern EU country, storage and warehousing (both bonded and non bonded) is readily available via numerous operators.
BONDED STORAGE (STORAGE AVAILABLE BEFORE CUSTOMS)
|
Storage condition |
Number of Storage Facilities |
Total Area (m²) |
Total volume (m³) |
Handling requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Open air |
Open Air |
300,000 m2 |
N/A |
Standard port cargo handling |
|
General cargo (indoor) |
Numerous |
22,000 m2 |
132,000 m3 (estimate) |
Standard port cargo handling |
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Bagged Cargo |
|
|
|
|
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Temperature controlled (15 to 25 °C) |
Available on demand |
N/A |
N/A |
|
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Keep Cool (2 to 8 °C) |
Available on demand |
N/A |
N/A |
|
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Freezing Temp (minus 25 to minus 15°C) |
Available on demand |
N/A |
N/A |
|
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Ultra cold-chain temp (minus 80 to minus 60°C) |
Available with planning |
N/A |
N/A |
|
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Narcotics Cage |
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|
|
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NON-BONDED STORAGE (STORAGE AVAILABLE AFTERS CUSTOMS)
|
Storage condition |
Number of Storage Facilities |
Total Area (m²) |
Total Volume (m³) |
Handling requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Open air |
As much as required |
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|
|
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General cargo (indoor) |
As much as required |
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|
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Bagged Cargo |
|
|
|
|
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Temperature controlled (15 to 25 °C) |
Available on Demand |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
Keep Cool (2 to 8 °C) |
Available on Demand |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
Freezing Temp (minus 25 to minus 15°C) |
Available on Demand |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
Ultra cold-chain temp (minus 80 to minus 60°C) |
Available with planning |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
Narcotics Cage |
2 |
|
|
|
Stevedoring
The port has capacity for the specialised loading and discharging of diverse cargo, including containerised goods, break-bulk, and RoRo units.
Available stevedoring activities include pre-slung palletised handling, trimming and flattening of dry bulk, and shifting of units within a ship or via the quay. For container operations, stevedoring also covers the stuffing and unstuffing of boxes, re-stows on board, and specialised lifts for over-dimension containers.
Eurogate Container Terminal Limassol manages all containerized stevedoring, while DP World Limassol handles general cargo, dry bulk, and Ro-Ro operations.
Hinterland Information
Items are primarily moved out of the port via road transport.
Logistics and forwarding services are available through companies such as Shoham Logistics and Kivotos Shipping. (Many other operators are available).
Port Security
The port has a Security Level 1 status and is compliant with ISPS standards. Stock security is managed through 24/7 on-site guards, CCTV recording,
The port enforces strict protocols for Dangerous Goods. Class 1 (explosives) and Class 7 (radioactive) materials are prohibited from storage and require immediate direct delivery.
Planned improvements to port security emphasise digitization and sustainability. The port is seeking to transition towards a climate-adaptive infrastructure via the EU Mission Cities initiative. This initiative aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 and includes the adoption of software to optimise vessel arrivals. Such upgrades aim to reduce turnaround times, lower carbon emissions, and improve shipment visibility.
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Security |
|
|---|---|
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ISPS Compliant |
Yes |
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Current ISPS Level |
1 |
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Police Boats |
Yes |
|
Fire Engines |
Yes |
