Port Cyprium Marina Esentepe North Cyprus

For quite some time there have been rumours abounding relating to the construction of a marina in Esentepe in North Cyprus. Certain constructors have already marketed properties on the back of an almost mythical marina and like the much talked about Esentepe golf course (which became a reality eventually), many people wondered whether the marina plans would actually come to fruition.

Well, the very good news is that construction is due to begin on Port Cyprium Marina in Kucuk Erenkoy near Esentepe in North Cyprus in 2007, and while solid plans for the marina have been in place since 2005 it has taken time to get all of the legal and legislative issues through government which is why the rumours about the marina have been circulating for so long.

Port Cyprium Marina is the brain child of Altan Houssein, an engineering and construction contracts and project manager with over twenty years experience. Altan is also a keen sailor and diver who has had a long term dream to realise the construction of a Marina on the North Cyprus coast.

Altan began examining whether the construction of such a facility was tenable many years ago and quickly discovered that there aren’t actually enough safe havens offering full facilities to sailors in the Eastern Mediterranean and that of the 22 marinas on the southern Turkish coastline offering decent facilities almost every one is already full.

Realising that demand for a professional marina existed was one thing – getting the government to approve its construction was quite something else, because aside from the environmental concerns the Turkish Cypriot government had there was the question of allowing the development of prime beachfront land plus navigating the quagmire that is the Cyprus problem as Altan basically was proposing the creation of a professional marina in a nation isolated from the rest of the international community.

All of these hurdles have not deterred Altan however, and he together with his team of expert advisers and backers have steadfastly held their course and pushed the plans through government with the Council of Ministers Session dated 14.02.2007 unanimously passing Resolution Number S(K-11)308-2007 for the marina to go ahead. A further breakthrough was reached this year when Rod Heikell featured Port Cyprium Marina in the 7th edition of his internationally acclaimed book ‘Turkish Waters Pilot & Cyprus’ which is a sailor’s must have guide to the coasts of Turkey from Bosphorus to the Syrian Border and Cyprus.

As stated, construction of the marina is due to begin in 2007 with the majority of construction expected to be complete within 18 months. The marina will offer safe mooring with 542 berths available and it will also feature numerous leisure facilities for yacht owners and nearby residents of the proposed Port Cyprium Village development. There will be bars, restaurants, shops, a leisure club, dive and sailing centre that will offer full training and also pleasure boat excursions as well and there will be an onsite guest house as well for those sailors who want a few nights on dry land!

The realisation of Port Cyprium Marina in Esentepe, North Cyprus is fantastic and exciting news for North Cyprus and a welcome development that may benefit the entire country.