Keel laying

The keel-laying ceremony marks the start of construction in the shipbuilding industry.

Particulars

The keel was laid in the historic shipbuilding as well as in contemporary wooden boat building, the keel is laid. Depending on the size of the ship, the keel consist of several parts. At the keel, the frames are then fixed to the outer skin which in turn is attached. Together with the decks and other stiffeners created the Hulk.

The term keel laying has been preserved in the iron and steel shipbuilding and is available there for the start of assembly of the hull. This time is important for both the payment (due to a partial sum ) and for the validity of provisions. Whether new legislation ( eg anti -fouling paints on ) are applied to a ship often depends on the date of keel laying.

In industrial shipbuilding in sectional construction keel means the laying of the first section ( fuselage section) at the place of construction ( slipway or dock) by crane. The real work begins with the burning / cutting the individual steel plates that make up the ship sections are built.

Until now be placed on the bracing under the first section as a lucky charm one or more coins. The symbolic on keel -laying has the same meaning as the foundation stone of the building in this context. The keel laying ceremony is celebrated similarly usually in a small ceremony with shipyard and shipping company representatives. In the form of a lucky coin in the mast track, the custom can be traced back before Christ by wreck discoveries to at least the time to one to two hundred years.