Diego Colón: A look back at the history of Astilleros de Mallorca
Diego Colón: A look back at the history of Astilleros de Mallorca
Diego Colón de Carvajal joined Astilleros de Mallorca in 1981 as Production Manager. More than forty years later, he reflects on the company’s evolution, the transformation of the industry and the projects that have established Astilleros de Mallorca as an international benchmark in superyacht refit.
A life dedicated to the sea and Astilleros de Mallorca
Some people’s professional careers eventually become part of a company’s history. This is the case of Diego Colón de Carvajal, who joined Astilleros de Mallorca in April 1981 as Production Manager, drawn to a shipyard model that was very different from anything he had previously experienced.
After six years working at a large shipyard in Gijón, he was looking for an environment where he could be involved in every stage of a project and maintain direct contact with clients, engineers and technical teams. “I was very attracted to the idea of a smaller shipyard, where the relationship was not only with the work itself, but also with the client, the technical office and the commercial side of the business; where it would be much more comprehensive.”
The decision also had a personal dimension. Mallorca was a place he had known since childhood and where he could imagine building a life with his family.
But the real challenge would come a few years later.
Reinventing a shipyard
After his first period at Astilleros de Mallorca, Diego Colón temporarily left the company to take on the role of Technical Director for Spain’s first America’s Cup Challenge. When he returned, his time as Shipyard Director, he found a completely different situation.
The time had come to reinvent the business.
For decades, the shipyard had focused on commercial shipbuilding and repair. It now had to transform itself into a company specialising in the refit of large yachts. Today, that decision may seem like a natural one, but at the time it involved taking significant risks, redefining processes and undertaking a major restructure.
“I had to oversee the transformation from the ground up. It was an extremely difficult and demanding period, but it laid the foundations for the activity that would later develop through a great deal of hard work.”
The transformation was not only industrial. It was also deeply human. “It involved reducing the workforce by more than 60%. It was a very difficult situation because behind every employee there was a family.”
Over time, however, the decisión proved to be the right one. “Within a few years, the shipyard began to grow again, the workforce increased and we reached a level of activity that would have been unimaginable ten years earlier.”
Palma, a unique destination
For Diego Colón, the growth of Astilleros de Mallorca cannot be understood without considering
Palma’s parallel development as an international winter destination for superyachts.
In the late 1980s, the first crews began arriving and establishing their base here for several months of the year. Little by little, the city brought together all the elements required to become an international reference point: marinas, a specialised marine industry, excellent air connections and an exceptional climate.
“Palma offered the perfect combination of marinas, a shipyard, transport connections and quality of life. All of this made it a highly attractive destination for this type of vessel.” Astilleros de Mallorca played a leading role in this process.
“We were the first shipyard specialising in the yacht market, to achieve an international reputation in the Spanish Mediterranean.”
Projects that leave their mark
After a career spanning more than forty years, it is difficult to choose a single project. Nevertheless, Diego Colón admits to having a particular fondness for large classic sailing yachts.
The restorations of Creole and Hispania, as well as that of a threemasted schooner he found at the shipyard when he first arrived, are among the most treasured memories of his career.
“I have a particular passion for sailing yachts. Whenever there is a sailing-yacht restoration project,I become personally involved.”
Among the motor yachts, the restoration of Bluebird also stands out. The project was recognised by ‘Boat International’ as the best restoration project of the year.
A legacy focused on the future
After witnessing the transformation of Astilleros de Mallorca for more than four decades, Diego Colón now looks forward with enthusiasm to a new chapter defined by growth and expansion.
In recent years, the company has begun extending its presence beyond Palma, adding new strategic locations such as Málaga and Sagunto. The aim is to provide a more accessible service, adapted to a constantly evolving fleet that requires increasingly greater capabilities.
“Our activity cannot remain concentrated solely in the Port of Palma. We want to be wherever our clients are. That is why the expansión we have undertaken in recent years is a forward-looking project that will deliver results over the coming decade.”
For Diego, this growth responds to a natural need. Superyachts are becoming increasingly large, and the physical limitations of the current facilities make it essential to have new spaces where major projects can be carried out without compromising the quality standards that have always defined Astilleros de Mallorca.
Ready for the next challenge
With more than eighty years of history, Astilleros de Mallorca is now entering a new stage, shaped by expansion.
For Diego Colón, the planned extension of the facilities and the possibility of working on vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes represent one of the most exciting projects in the shipyard’s recent history.
“It is a financial, technological, commercial and, above all, human challenge. But it will be a fundamental phase in the future of Astilleros de Mallorca.”
When asked how he would like to see Astilleros de Mallorca in the years ahead, his answer reflects the same vision he had when he first arrived in 1981: a company capable of growing, without losing its essence.
“I would like to see the new shipyard project become a reality, to be able to work on vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes and to see our expansion on the Spanish mainland fully consolidated. We want to continue providing services wherever our fleet is located, because Palma is no longer the only major destination and our clients are evolving too.”
More than forty years after first walking through the gates of Astilleros de Mallorca, Diego Colón continues to look ahead with the same enthusiasm that led him to accept the position of Production Manager all those years ago. Because, if there is one thing he has learned throughout this time, it is that the story of a shipyard is never finished.