Business Leaders pay tribute to MICS Founder and leading Naval Engineer Paul Cardona

A series of Business Leaders took to social media over the weekend to pay tribute to the late Eng. Paul Cardona – Founder, Managing Director, and Managing Surveyor at yacht surveys and consultancy company MICS.

Eng. Cardona started his career in the maritime industry in 1966 as an Apprentice at Swan Hunters, Malta. Over the following five decades, he held a plethora of senior roles all whilst contributing greatly to the industry, having, amongst other things, drafted the Transport Malta Commercial Yacht Code.

“Malta has today lost its leading Naval Engineer and Yacht Surveyor, a true professional and selfless Mentor who has trained and guided generations of Surveyors and Shipping Lawyers out of pure passion for the subject and love for the shipping and yachting industries,” Fenech & Fenech Advocates Partner Alison Vassallo wrote.

“It is due to him and other giants of his generation that Malta became a respected shipping jurisdiction distinguished by exceptional services and knowledge,” she continued.

Towards the start of his career, Eng. Cardona took to London to serve as Superintendent Engineer at Southern Steamships Ltd. This experience placed him in charge of the drawing approval and the supervision during construction of a 121,000-tonne tanker and two 40,400-tonne bulk carriers. In 1978, he was appointed Fleet Superintendent for a fleet of 12 vessels at the same company.

“Eng. Cardona’s passing is a loss on a national scale. His legacy as a Professional Surveyor and his wealth of knowledge and contacts in the maritime industry shall be incomparable and definitely a hard act to follow for anyone wishing to follow in his footsteps,” Valletta Superyachts CEO Niki Travers Tauss wrote.

“Collectively, the local maritime community will enjoy [his] legacy for many a generation. What [he has] achieved in the name of us all with [his] undying dedication to our trade was the most elegant expression of a selfless act for the common good,” he continued.

Eng. Cardona returned to Malta in late 1980, setting up his marine survey and consultancy firm in the process. After that, he was involved in many significant projects, including Maritime Investigations for Major Underwriters, P&I Clubs, and legal work.

For many years, Eng. Cardona also served as Chairman of local environmental NGO ‘Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar’.

“[Eng. Cardona] touched the people and activities around him in a very unique way. He was a champion for justice, a fighter for what is right and honest in our daily lives. We will all remember Paul fondly as a man would listen intently, who took the time to understand concerns and find solution,” the NGO wrote.

“His charm and wit, with that constant twinkle in his eye, and unflagging energy were his hallmark. We are deeply grateful to him, for giving his time, love, and devotion so freely.”