«One of the most important ports of Crete with dense traffic of ships and passengers is »shielded" through which the south of the Regional Unit of Chania and the bordering Gavdos are connected.
This is the port of Mavris Limnonas Chora Sfakia for which the Port Authority of Chania approved the Environmental Impact Study paving the way for major improvement projects. .
According to the study presented by AP-MPA, «the port of Sfakia is characterized as a passenger port of intra-regional range.
The port serves the coastal connection of Sfakia with the seven main ports of southwestern Crete (Loutro, Agia Roumeli, Sougia, Paleochora, Gavdos, Agia Galini, Plakias).The average annual number of calls for category B vessels is about 960, while the other tourist and fishing vessels of the region are about 600 calls. The needs in the summer months are significantly increased. The port is used especially during the summer months by a significant number of inflatable boats and pleasure boats due to the presence of a boat ramp.
Also, the port of Sfakia is one of the most important fishing shelters in South Crete. The port is mainly home to small coastal fishing vessels. It is a designated port of landing of fish, where medium fishing vessels, mainly purse seiners fishing in the area, also land.
The Environmental Impact Study concerns the renewal of the existing port infrastructure, as well as the modification of the port and the major improvement and expansion projects of the port and its port infrastructure.
The feasibility of modifying the project is described in a typical manner in the Port Authority report that states: «In its current state, the passenger and fishing port of Black Lagoon of Chora Sfakia is characterized by a severe operational problem. The wave surge of the foreshore jetty during severe bad weather and wave penetration make it particularly difficult for the mooring and stay of the ferries in the port, especially during the winter months. It is also unable to meet passenger demand during periods of high demand due to the inadequacy of the available berths and their operational depths.
Based on this picture, the proposed projects for the improvement/upgrading of the port are:
Construction of a new 265-metre long jetty. .
Lengthening of an existing (internal to the port basin) jetty made of natural boulders by 30 metres.
Hatches on the inner side of the foresail pier.
The creation of land areas by filling in part of the inner side of the foreshore up to the shelf of the existing and partially removed foreshore jetty. The construction of a boat ramp is also envisaged in this area.
The creation of the necessary operational depths to meet existing and future needs for passenger vessels.
The relevant study has been submitted to the Electronic Environmental Register of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, to the Department of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Decentralized Administration of Crete and is in the process of receiving opinions from the relevant departments.
