The Blue Limassol Forum (BLF) took place on Friday, 15 May, at Frederick University, Limassol, with strong participation from representatives of the maritime sector, the research and academic community, and representatives of decision-making bodies.

The Blue Limassol Forum is co-organized annually by the Municipality of Limassol and the Department of Maritime Transport and Commerce as a platform for dialogue on the sustainability of coastal cities.

This year’s event provided the citizens of Limassol with the opportunity to learn about the city’s strategic planning and ongoing initiatives related to sustainable urban development. In this context, the Mayor of Limassol, Yiannis Armeftis, announced that an international architectural competition for the design and redevelopment of Aktaia Odos will be launched in the near future.

The Mayor of Limassol and the Vice Rector of Frederick University, Michalis Komodromos, welcomed participants and highlighted the contribution of the Blue Limassol Forum to achieving optimal coastal management. In his address, the Mayor underlined that the greatest challenge lies not in making commitments, but in implementing them effectively, inclusively, and sustainably through integrated coastal governance, coordinated action across sectors, institutional collaboration, and the meaningful participation of local communities. The Vice Rector emphasized that the Blue Limassol Forum is a flagship initiative of the University, which places strong emphasis on research related to sustainable coastal management.

The opening keynote address was delivered by Marina Hadjimanolis, who noted that Limassol, as one of the leading maritime centres in the Eastern Mediterranean, can serve as a model for integrated coastal governance and sustainable blue growth. She also referred to the establishment of a dedicated Committee for the Protection of the Sea from Pollution, involving all relevant stakeholders, with the aim of addressing environmental challenges affecting Limassol’s coastal and marine areas more effectively. She stressed that the establishment of the Committee was informed, among other factors, by the findings of the comprehensive coastal risk assessment conducted by Frederick University, and warmly thanked Angelos Menelaou “for his continuous advisory support and active contribution to promoting sustainable coastal governance and the protection of the marine environment from pollution.”

Presentations followed, during which the Mayor of Limassol presented the Municipality’s vision for Aktaia Odos.

Theodoulos Mesimeris presented the Ministry’s actions for the protection of Limassol’s coastline and analysed the integrated governance framework currently being developed for the sustainable management of coastal and marine areas.

Eugen-Henning Adami, President of the Cyprus Foundation of the Sea (CyFOS), highlighted the importance of coordinated action among all stakeholders involved in coastal management and presented the role of CyFOS in strengthening Cyprus’ blue economy, in alignment with European strategies for sustainable development and innovation.

Dr Emmanuil Nikolaidis, Assistant Professor at the Department of Maritime Transport and Commerce, presented the progress of the Decarbonlim project, implemented by the Cyprus Ports Authority in collaboration with Frederick University, the Municipality of Limassol, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), DP World and EUROGATE, as well as specialized international partners. DBA S.p.A. developed the technical and design studies for the OPS infrastructure, while DNV contributed to the safety and risk assessment studies. Eric Van Hooydonk provided specialized legal and regulatory support. The technology of supplying electricity to ships from shore, known as Cold Ironing or Onshore Power Supply (OPS), is considered one of the most advanced solutions for reducing emissions in the maritime industry and is expected to significantly reduce air pollution in the city of Limassol. The Port of Limassol is expected to become the first port in Cyprus capable of implementing this technology, pending approval of the relevant application. In his intervention, the Mayor of Limassol called on the government to accelerate the necessary procedures in order to enable the faster implementation of the technology at the city’s port.

The event concluded with an open discussion moderated by Angelos Menelaou, featuring, in addition to the aforementioned speakers, Yiannis Tsouloftas, President of EOA Limassol, and Penelope Vasquez Hadjilyra. Mr Tsouloftas referred to the intensive ongoing efforts to manage Limassol’s rapid growth, which are expected to contribute substantially to the city’s improvement and sustainable development. Ms Vasquez Chatzilyra emphasized the need to transform planning into meaningful action.
As coastal cities face increasing pressures from climate change, maritime activity, and pollution, the discussion highlighted the urgent need for integrated and collaborative governance models capable of balancing development with environmental protection and the wellbeing of Limassol’s citizens.