What Is A Keel Laying Ceremony? Utopia of the Seas’ Keel Laying Ceremony
Every ship’s life begins with the very first block.
The first block of Utopia of the Seas, put in place in the building dock. PHOTO: CHANTIERS DE L’ATLANTIQUE
The Royal Caribbean family is about to get bigger, as the first block of the 6th (and possibly final) Oasis-Class cruise ship Utopia of the Seas, has been laid at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique Shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. This milestone marks the beginning of the block assembly process - where the blocks that will eventually make up the enormous 230,000 Gross Ton, 362-metre long vessel, will be lifted into place and welded together.
“The keel laying for Utopia of the Seas represents the first milestone of an incredible ship and the next step toward a bolder, thrilling future for Royal Caribbean and vacations,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Utopia’s debut in 2024, on the heels of Icon of the Seas setting sail in fall 2023, will build on a new, exciting chapter that is set to redefine family vacations and getaways for all ages in ways we’ll soon reveal.”
But with so many new cruisers recently, some who may be new or unfamiliar with the marine and maritime sectors may be wondering “What’s a Keel Laying Ceremony? I’ve never even heard of a Keel, never mind a Keel Laying Ceremony.” Well no fear, because we will try to explain what it entails, and the difference between the construction and block assembly of a ship.
The Keel, And The Significance Of Keel Laying
Simply put, the keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural component of a vessel. And just as there are many types of ships and boats, there are many different types of keels to suit the needs of all.
For our purposes however, we will only cover keels on seagoing ships, like cruise ships, where the keel acts like a backbone, from which the hull of a ship is built around. In the past, when ships were built from the keel up, keel laying signified the official start of a ship’s construction.
Evolution Of Keel Laying
However, just as technology has advanced over centuries, so have the methods used to create the colossal cruise ships we love and enjoy. The modern day shipbuilding process now involves modular construction with prefabricated “blocks”. This has led to an evolution in the meaning of Keel Laying. In today’s context, Keel Laying now refers to the first block laid into position on the dry dock or slipway. It has become more of a ceremonial event, as the start of the fabrication of blocks takes place before keel laying.
The Keel Laying Ceremony
When the first prefabricated block is completed, it is time to move it into the building dock for block assembly. To commemorate the important milestone, a Keel-Laying Ceremony is held, and usually includes a Coin Ceremony. This long-standing maritime tradition is believed to bless the ship with good luck during construction, and later when the ship finally takes to the seas.
For Utopia of the Seas currently being built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, the coins used were specially-minted for the occasion. A35 - the ship’s Yard Number, as well as her name, date of keel laying and place of build were inscribed on the coin. The coin was placed in a small compartment inside the first block, before being welded shut. The block laid will eventually be part of the ship’s bow and bow thruster housing.
It is important to note though, that there are variations in the proceedings for the Keel-Laying and Coin Ceremonies, depending on the country or shipyard in which the ship is being built. If you’d like us to compare different keel-laying ceremonies across the different shipyards, please do let us know in the comments!
Keel-Laying vs. Steel Cutting
As we have learnt, Keel-Laying refers to the start of the block assembly of a ship. Steel cutting, on the other hand, marks the transition from drawings, to creating the actual ship with steel.
Just like the keel-laying, the first Steel Cutting is a significant occasion, with representatives from the shipyard and future owners present to witness the first piece of steel being cut by a plasma cutter. But this begs the question - what’s the difference between “Block Assembly” and “Construction”?
Block Assembly vs. Construction
In shipbuilding, the two seemingly similar terms actually mean different things. But (very) simply put, Block Assembly is merely a part of the process of Construction.
Construction, on the other hand, concerns the shipbuilding process from start to finish. It encompasses everything from the Preliminary Design of the ship, the Block Assembly of the blocks that become the vessel, to the tail end of the process where the vessel undergoes Sea Trials just before Delivery.
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