Listen, I need to tell you a secret about the superyacht world. Everyone drools over the brand-new, futuristic yachts—the ones that look like alien spaceships and cost a billion dollars. But if you talk to the engineers, the captains, and the true shipyard veterans, they’ll tell you the real magic isn’t in the new construction. It's in the resurrection.
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| The 1970s steel hull that just got a brand-new engine—and a flying jet pack |
When she was launched in 1977, she was a classic, steel-hulled cruiser—sturdy, strong, and built for purpose. She was the antithesis of today’s carbon-fiber speedsters. Over the next few decades, she aged. Her systems got tired, her look became dated, and by all conventional wisdom, she should have ended up on a scrap heap or relegated to the back row of a cheap marina.
But that’s not what happened.
Instead, the BERZINC became a technological Trojan horse. Her owners decided they wanted the classic, enduring soul of a 70s yacht, but demanded the performance, luxury, and outright bonkers features of a vessel built yesterday. They took her to the most skilled medical center for sick superyachts in the Mediterranean: Astilleros de Mallorca S.A. (AdM).
What AdM—and their collaborative partners—did to this ship is nothing short of marine surgery. They didn’t just fix her up; they took her apart, modernized her entire anatomy, and gave her a second life that is arguably more impressive than her first. This is why you should care: the BERZINC is the physical embodiment of the expertise concentrated in Palma, Mallorca. She is proof that with enough skill, attention, and budget, you can have stability, history, and a flying amphibious vehicle all in the same package.
Forget the glossy brochures. This is the story of how you turn a classic yacht into an unstoppable, modern charter machine. Let’s get into the specs and the secrets.
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| The 1970s steel hull that just got a brand-new engine—and a flying jet pack |
Chapter 1: The Rare Breed of Palma (1977) – The BERZINC’s First Launch
To appreciate the resurrection, you have to know the origin.
The BERZINC began life under the name Cleopatra (and later sailed as L’Aprilia and Maxime Z), and her birthplace—Astilleros de Mallorca—is a crucial part of her DNA. AdM, established in 1942, is historically defined by its competence in refit and repair. While they are giants today in keeping the Mediterranean fleet sailing, they only built a handful of superyachts from scratch, and BERZINC was one of them.
She represents a rare period of new construction ambition for the Spanish shipyard. The design pedigree was impeccable: Naval Architecture was handled by the venerable British firm Camper & Nicholsons, a name synonymous with traditional, seaworthy design. They gave her a robust steel hull paired with an aluminum superstructure—a combination chosen for strength, durability, and a comfortable, displacement ride.
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| The 1970s steel hull that just got a brand-new engine—and a flying jet pack |
Let’s break down the original dimensions that made her a classic:
Length Overall (LOA): 44.68 meters (146.6 feet). A highly respectable length that places her firmly in the superyacht category.
Gross Tonnage (GT): Approximately 302 GT. For a ship this size, this volume speaks to the robust, heavy construction and generous internal space provided by her full-displacement hull design.
Purpose: She was built with a slightly bulbous bow, a feature designed to reduce drag and increase efficiency, signaling her intention to be a long-range cruiser, not a dockside showboat.
The 1970s motor yacht was often characterized by heavy wood interiors, small windows, and utilitarian deck spaces. While BERZINC was a luxury vessel, she followed the conventions of her era. Crucially, the technology—from the engines to the navigation and stabilization—was analog and time-bound.
As the years passed and the global fleet modernized, this handsome classic faced an inescapable truth: she was falling behind. Charter guests in the 2000s demanded features that simply didn't exist in 1977: silent cruising, zero-speed stability, and interiors flooded with light. The economic calculus of selling her for cheap was certainly on the table.
But that robust steel hull? Those good bones laid by Astilleros de Mallorca? They were too valuable to discard. This is where the story shifts from history to high-stakes surgery.
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| The 1970s steel hull that just got a brand-new engine—and a flying jet pack |
Chapter 2: The Rebirth Saga – The Cost of Preserving a Soul
The decision to embark on a comprehensive rebuild, as BERZINC’s owners did, is rarely taken lightly. It’s often quoted in the industry that a full refit costs 50-70% of a new build, but the logistical and technical complexity can be triple the headaches. You're trying to fit a modern engine and nervous system into a vintage skeleton.
While the famous, extensive "hull-up" rebuild in the 2007-2012 timeframe involved other top European yards for specific phases (like Balk Shipyard in the Netherlands for parts of the initial stripping), the long-term, specialized, technical lifecycle management of BERZINC is where Astilleros de Mallorca has continually excelled. They are the constant, reliable partner who understands the ship's entire history and physical limits.
The goal of this rebuild phase wasn’t preservation; it was total functional transformation.
Structural Surgery and Hull Lengthening
The first major surgical feat was the hull modification. Modern yachts demand vast swim platforms—a place to safely access the sea and launch toys. BERZINC’s original transom was too small.
The Change: The hull was lengthened by an additional 1.5 meters to accommodate a contemporary swim platform and a proper beach club area.
The Challenge: This is not cosmetic. Welding new steel and aluminum to a decades-old structure requires intense analysis of the load dynamics, weight distribution, and hydrostatics. The engineers at AdM and their partners had to ensure this extension didn't ruin the yacht's finely tuned displacement characteristics, which could lead to stability or efficiency issues. They nailed it.
The 1970s steel hull that just got a brand-new engine—and a flying jet pack
The Engine Room Overhaul: Power and Range
The tired 70s machinery was ruthlessly replaced. The BERZINC now runs on twin MTU 12V 4000 diesel engines. MTU engines are the gold standard in performance and reliability.
What makes this installation spectacular, however, is the combination of power and range:
Top Speed: 14 knots. Respectable for a displacement vessel of this size.
Cruising Speed: A comfortable 10-12 knots.
Endurance: The magic number is 3,500 nautical miles at 10 knots.
Three thousand five hundred nautical miles! That means the BERZINC can comfortably sail from Palma across the Atlantic to the Caribbean without needing to stop for fuel. This range transforms her from a regional cruiser into a genuine global explorer. That capability is a direct result of combining an efficient, classic hull form with thoroughly modern, optimized propulsion systems—a testament to the engineering oversight during her refit cycle.
The BERZINC came back to her birthplace in Palma repeatedly for follow-up work—including a massive mechanical improvement and full repaint in 2012, and continuous maintenance right up to 2022. Every successful trip is a win for Astilleros de Mallorca, proving their ability to manage a legacy vessel that operates under current high-pressure charter demands.
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| The 1970s steel hull that just got a brand-new engine—and a flying jet pack |
Chapter 3: The Silent Comfort – Conquering the Curse of the Classic Yacht
If you've ever spent time on an older boat, even a large one, you know the curse: noise and movement. The hull is a giant drum, every wave causes a crash, and at anchor, you feel every tiny swell. For the modern charter guest paying top euro, this is unacceptable. The BERZINC’s refit was defined by solving these two fundamental comfort issues.
The Zero-Speed Stabilizer Installation
This is, perhaps, the most technically demanding comfort upgrade a shipyard can perform on a classic yacht.
The Technology: Zero-speed stabilizers (often referred to as 'at-anchor' stabilizers) use powerful hydraulic fins that deploy underwater. They constantly adjust their angle to counteract the roll caused by waves, even when the yacht is motionless.
The Installation Challenge: Cutting massive holes into the side of a decades-old steel hull to install these complex systems is a huge undertaking. The engineers must reinforce the surrounding hull structure to handle the immense forces generated by the fins, integrate complex pipework and electronics, and ensure the whole system is entirely waterproof and reliable. For the BERZINC, the integration required surgical precision to maintain the hull’s structural integrity while adding this modern luxury.
The Result: The feeling of standing still on a yacht equipped with these is genuinely transformative. The BERZINC offers guests a stable, peaceful experience, whether they are crossing the sea or lying anchored in a secluded cove off Corsica.
The 1970s steel hull that just got a brand-new engine—and a flying jet pack
The Interior Volume Secret: The Full-Beam Advantage
While the engine room addressed performance, the interior addressed luxury volume. The architects, including the later styling by Elegan Turkey and Felix Buytendijk, made an audacious design decision that pays off in spades: They eliminated the side decks on the main level.
Let me put this in perspective. When you walk onto the main deck of a typical 45-meter yacht, you see narrow walkways running along the perimeter, allowing crew or guests to walk from the back to the bow outside. BERZINC scrapped those walkways on the main deck level.
What this buys you: The entire 7.15-meter beam (width) of the vessel is dedicated to the interior volume of the main salon and the owner's cabin forward.
The Effect: The main salon feels dramatically larger and airier than you would expect on a yacht of this length. Floor-to-ceiling windows line the space, flooding the area with natural Mediterranean light and offering uninterrupted views.
The Look: The interior design highlights this volume by using a sophisticated, contemporary contrast: dark wood flooring (giving it grounding and warmth) set against crisp, white and neutral furnishings. It is minimalist without being cold—a perfect backdrop for the views and the social buzz.
This full-beam design choice allowed the BERZINC to leapfrog decades of typical yacht architecture, instantly making her interior feel more contemporary and spacious than many of her peers.
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| The 1970s steel hull that just got a brand-new engine—and a flying jet pack |
Chapter 4: The Accommodation and Crew Excellence
The luxury on the BERZINC is not just about the social areas; it’s about providing private, flexible sanctuaries for guests. Every design choice supports a high-end, dedicated charter experience, a niche AdM prepared her perfectly for.
The Owner’s Sanctuary: The Main Deck Master
The Master Stateroom is the crown jewel of the accommodation, benefitting directly from the full-beam design and its position forward on the main deck.
Location, Location, Location: Being on the main deck provides the primary guests with superior views and natural light compared to a lower-deck master.
Space & Amenities: Spanning the entire beam of the vessel, the suite includes a massive double bed, extensive storage, a large walk-in closet, and a luxurious en-suite bathroom. The decor remains light and fresh, maximizing the perception of space. This layout provides privacy and a true sense of scale, separating the owner’s space from the other guest cabins.
Flexible Guest Arrangements Below
Below deck, the remaining guest accommodation is intelligently laid out for maximum flexibility—a hallmark of a vessel designed for the demanding charter market. BERZINC can comfortably sleep 10-12 guests across four beautifully appointed cabins, accessed via a handsome, curved stairwell.
The arrangement is:
Two Double Staterooms: Generous spaces with double beds, private en-suite facilities, and refined modern finishes.
Two Twin Staterooms: These are the key to flexibility. Each twin cabin includes two single berths plus an additional Pullman berth (a fold-down bunk). This allows the yacht to carry up to four children or singles in separate beds, or simply offer two extra berths when needed, pushing the total accommodation capacity to 12.
The quality of the finishing, from the high-tech AV systems to the luxurious en-suite bathrooms, demonstrates that the refit was total. They didn’t cut corners; they rebuilt the yacht from the inside out to meet the highest contemporary standards.
The Engine of Service: The Crew
A superyacht, especially a successful charter yacht, is only as good as its crew. BERZINC accommodates a dedicated crew of 7 (or sometimes 8, including the Captain). The refit included significant upgrades to the crew areas and galley—an often-overlooked necessity.
A happy crew provides exceptional service, and Astilleros de Mallorca understands that. Ensuring the crew quarters are comfortable, modern, and functional is essential for a vessel that spends months at sea. This focus on the "back-of-house" operational areas is a signature of AdM’s comprehensive refit planning, which leads to better guest experiences and high crew retention rates.
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| The 1970s steel hull that just got a brand-new engine—and a flying jet pack |
Chapter 5: The Ultimate Flex – When a Yacht Needs a Runway
Okay, this is the part where the story goes from engineering excellence to outright spectacle. We’ve established the BERZINC is mechanically sound and beautifully appointed. But the true, drop-the-mic feature is her toy storage.
You know how some yachts carry a helicopter? BERZINC carries something far cooler, and far more representative of its adventurous, classic-meets-modern personality: The Polaris Amphibious Flying Tender.
The Flying Jet Pack
The Polaris is a small, specialized aircraft designed to take off and land on water. The fact that a 45-meter, 1977-built yacht not only carries one but has its deck layout, storage lockers, and tender crane systems engineered to safely launch and retrieve it is mind-blowing.
I love this because it perfectly encapsulates the owner’s mindset. They didn’t just want luxury; they wanted novelty, exclusivity, and a transportation system that says, "I don't need a runway; the ocean is my runway."
This feature is a logistical and mechanical marvel. It required precise planning during the refit to carve out a massive storage locker (often on the forward port side, or integrated into the boat deck) and to ensure the tender crane could handle the specific dimensions and weight of the Polaris safely, even in a swell. For charterers, the experience of having a private flying boat available (piloted by an external specialist, of course) transforms the cruising experience from A-to-B transport into a private aerial tour.
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| The 1970s steel hull that just got a brand-new engine—and a flying jet pack |
The Commercial Beast: 60-Guest Capacity
The other truly spectacular, often unmentioned feature is the BERZINC’s commercial classification. She holds a flag dispensation allowing her to host up to 60 guests while docked in port for static events.
This number is huge and highly profitable.
Why does this matter for the story of AdM? Because achieving this 60-guest rating means the yacht’s entire refit—from fire suppression systems and evacuation routes to stability calculations and passenger flow—had to meet incredibly stringent Bureau Veritas (BV) and commercial safety standards.
Astilleros de Mallorca's ability to navigate the complex regulatory maze rçequired to grant a 45-year-old yacht this modern commercial license speaks volumes about the precision of their structural and safety work. They made her structure not just strong, but certifiably safe enough to handle large-scale events, proving that the BERZINC is a hard-working asset, not just a floating holiday home.
The Full Toy Garage
Beyond the flying boat, the BERZINC features a water toy inventory that demands a proper beach club area (which the 1.5m stern extension made possible):
High-performance Tenders and Waverunners.
The thrilling Flyboard (a hydro-powered jet pack for the water).
A selection of sailing dinghies, kayaks, and paddleboards.
Full professional scuba gear and a compressor for guest diving—no need to rely on external dive shops.
The whole deck layout—from the sunbathing lounges on the flybridge (often featuring a custom Jacuzzi) to the expansive boat deck—is designed around maximizing the enjoyment of the Mediterranean climate and water activities.
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| The 1970s steel hull that just got a brand-new engine—and a flying jet pack |
Conclusion: Why BERZINC is the Ultimate Proof of Concept
If you've followed this journey, you understand that the BERZINC is more than a yacht; she's a masterclass in value creation and technical audacity. She’s the answer to the question, "Can you teach an old dog new tricks?"
The answer, thanks to the decades of focused expertise at Astilleros de Mallorca, is a resounding yes.
AdM didn't just paint her hull or replace a worn carpet. They took a classic 1977 hull—a vessel with a solid, steel foundation designed by legends like Camper & Nicholsons—and methodically inserted every single modern necessity: powerful MTU engines for transatlantic range, zero-speed stabilizers for silent comfort, a full-beam interior for maximum volume, and the structural capacity to carry a literal flying amphibious tender.
She is the ultimate proof of concept for the refit industry. She sails as a powerful, elegant superyacht with a beautiful, modern aesthetic, all while carrying the soul of a classic cruiser. Every time the BERZINC drops anchor in Monaco, or takes off from the water in Thailand, she is silently announcing the prowess of the craftsmen in Palma who made her impossible second life a reality.
The true luxury isn't owning a yacht; it's owning a legend, and having the best technical hands in the world ready to ensure that legend never retires. The BERZINC is cruising testament to the fact that when it comes to quality, the Spanish shipyards of Mallorca have an undeniable pedigree.