pomos harbour — Two fishing boats have sunk at Pomos harbour due to strong winds, highlighting ongoing concerns about the shelter’s inadequate protection for vessels. The incident occurred on two separate occasions last week, causing significant distress among boat owners and local authorities.
Andreas Dionysiou, the Deputy Mayor of Polis Chrysochous, expressed his concerns to Phileleftheros, stating that this situation is not new. Boat owners have been raising alarms about structural problems at the fishing shelter for years, yet little has been done to address them. “Our years-long representations brought no results, with the Fisheries Department insisting that everything is properly constructed,” he remarked.
Last week, severe winds impacted the area on Tuesday and Friday evenings, which Dionysiou described as unusual for this time of year. He noted that the lack of protection for the fishing shelter during strong northerly or north-easterly winds had devastating effects, resulting in the sinking of boats and serious damage to others. “Unfortunately, the phenomenon appeared during this period, which is unusual, so they did not have time to protect their boats,” he explained.
The Pomos fishing shelter, constructed in 1983, has faced criticism for its design flaws that fail to provide adequate safety for moored vessels. Dionysiou highlighted that it can only accommodate three or four large fishing boats at a time, further complicating the situation for local fishermen who rely on the harbour.
While the current Agriculture Minister has visited Pomos and shown willingness to pursue solutions, the issue remains pressing. Dionysiou hopes for improvements that will prevent future incidents and ensure the safety of those who depend on the harbour for their livelihood.