The first recorded documentation regarding a shipyard on the island of Mallorca mentions a yard 'Atarazanas' located in the town of Palma around 1230, at the same time the island was conquered. This shipyard was located outside of the city walls but close to the town in an area near to where the present Astilleros de Mallorca is located. Shipbuilding and repair then started to become increasingly popular following the conquest in the 13th century as maritime trade took off throughout the Mediterranean basin.
Several yards then developed within the area, including the Royal shipyards near to the old town. Astilleros de Palma was established in 1942, and initiated the construction of steel vessels on the Island. The yard was originally located in La Pedrera, now in the centre of the Paseo Maritimo, and then during the 60’s it moved to its present location taking on its current name of Astilleros de Mallorca. Since its foundation the yard has been responsible for the construction of all manner of vessels including trawlers, container ships, refrigerated cargo vessels, petrol carriers, salvage vessels, anti-pollution vessels, fire fighting tugs and ultimately liquefied gas carriers. 60 years plus At the beginning of the 40's some of the yard's first pleasure boats were being constructed at the shipyard. In those days, when the shipyard was near to Porto Pi, a small turning bridge had to be opened for every boat that had to dock or be launched. This often interrupted the traffic that had just started to circulate on what is now one of Palma's busiest roads, the Paseo Marítimo. |  |  | |  | Three-mast schooner 'Jessica' L.O.A.
60m constructed in 1984 | LPG carrier, Construction No 239 on the shipyard outfitting quay |
The first boats to be constructed in steel were for the Naviera Mallorquina fleet that ferried between the Balearic Islands and the mainland. At the end of the 70's a large 41m motor yacht was soon followed by the first three masted schooner to be constructed in the world since the 20's. The construction of merchant ships reached its peak in 1986 with construction of a 113m LPG Carrier. It was the biggest boat to be built in the shipyard and at the time a technological challenge. Once delivered, the yard started it's evolution towards the pleasure yacht market.
| The yacht ALDONZA delivered in 1995 was the last yacht to be constructed at the yard and marked a turning point in the conversion of Astilleros from building to the refit and repair of yachts. In the early 90's the renovation process of the yard's facilities had begun to adapt it exclusively to the yachting market. One of the most important objectives was the creation of a refit and repair centre that would house all of the activities required when repairing a yacht. To achieve this, new workshops for carpenters, electricians, riggers, upholsterers and painters were built. |  | | Long Range m/y 'ALDONZA' 30m. de Vries Lentsch Design, delivered 1995 |
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The Shipyard 
