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Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST One of the oldest customs still practised is that
Engineering), held the keel laying ceremony relating to the launching of a new ship. It has
for the seventh of eight Littoral Mission had a religious significance from the earliest
th
Vessels (LMV) on 20 October 2017. days.
Keel laying or laid down is the formal The christening ceremony originated as an
commencement of the construction of a ship. appeasement to the gods of the elements.
Keel is the beam around which the hull of the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians all held
ship is constructed. It runs from the stern and ceremonies to ask the gods to protect sailors.
acts like the spine of the hull. It is the first part The favour of the monarch of the seas,
of a ship’s hull to be constructed. Poseidon in Greek mythology, the Roman
Neptune was often evoked.
The oldest reference to this custom is that of
an Assyrian tablet, believed to have been
carved about 2100 B.C., on which the
inscription tells of the building of Noah's Ark,
and of the launching that a yoke of oxen was
sacrificed. A later development, probably in
the 14th century, was the custom of toasting
the new vessel from silver wine goblets.
The goblets were thrown into the sea to
prevent further toasts, possibly of bad omen,
being drunk. For reasons of economy a wine
bottle was substituted in 1690.
By the 1800s, the christenings of ships began
to follow a familiar pattern. A “christening
fluid” would be poured against the bow of the
ship, though it was not necessarily wine or
champagne. It was usual for a prince or other
CHRISTENING A SHIP male member of royalty to smash the bottle
against the bow. Early in the 19th century,
women and those other than the clergy and
high officials began to take part in the
ceremony of launching ships. After 1811 the
honour was given to prominent ladies.
People have been known to miss the ship
entirely; so today the bottle is secured by a
lanyard to the bow of the ship, as a safety
measure for spectators. A free swing was
traditional until a spectator was injured and
