Importance of Laying a Ship’s Keel
Laying a keel is an important date in ship history as it represents the birth of a ship. It has been many years since the keel was laid for a Royal Canadian Navy ship until June 9, 2016, when the keel was laid for what would become HMCS Harry DeWolf, the first patrol ship in the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) program. The event was the first in a series of traditional naval celebrations over the coming years as the Royal Canadian Navy acquires ships under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
The keel is “the main section of the hull at the front and back. It runs along the bottom of the ship, connecting the bow and the stern.” In older wooden or steel ships, the keel extends the entire length of the hull. Attached to it are the bow (the main steel member that forms the front of the ship), the stern post (the vertical structural member at the stern), and the ribs. This definition reflects the typical way ships are built.
Today, ships can be built in modules or sections that are manufactured separately from the fittings and equipment inside and then assembled into the hull and superstructure. Patrol boats each consist of 3 large blocks, which in turn consist of 62 smaller blocks. In modern naval vessels, the placement of part or all of the large blocks onto the brackets that build the funnel is called “keel laying.”
Keel laying is an important date because it usually marks the beginning of the ship’s full production. For civilian ships, this date dictates the applicable construction standards. Offshore construction allows for greater flexibility, and the sides of the build can be changed after the keel is laid.
Many activities, such as design, material ordering, and preliminary manufacturing, take place before the keel is laid, so this date is often appropriate for warships. However, keel laying does not guarantee the launch and completion of the ship’s construction. Some ships are dismantled or converted to other types of ships before they are launched.
Keel laying dates are very important to ship enthusiasts because the time between keel laying and ship launching indicates government support for the project, engineering and logistical complexities, and the capabilities of the shipbuilder.
The keel-laying ceremony is an informal event usually arranged by the shipyard. Traditionally, after a meeting and brief speeches, a section of the beam is lowered into a bracket on the gangway. The ship’s sponsor or a senior naval representative then declares the keel “laid.” Mementos (such as a silver plate and a silver hammer) may be presented – becoming part of the ship’s official artifacts.
Traditionally, the keel-laying ceremony is performed to pray for good luck during the ship’s construction and life. Clergy of various faiths pray for the protection of the ship and may observe ancient customs. Chiefs from other countries may also attend the ceremony. In some navies, it is customary for the chief naval officer to place a silver dollar under the ship’s keel before the ship is lowered. In other navies, the sponsor or a junior or senior artisan at the shipyard may place a coin. In the U.S. Navy, the sponsor may be asked to weld her initials to a metal plate on the hull. Silver nails may be driven into the ship’s keel with a silver hammer. Regardless of the custom, the goal is to keep the ceremony short, simple, and in keeping with maritime traditions.
The coin used on June 8, 2016, is part of a set of coins issued by the Royal Canadian Mint. The coin does not have to have a specific relationship to the name of the ship. The authorities (in this case, the DeWolf family) agreed to select a coin with a wolf’s head as the design. The set consists of four categories. Admiral John Newton, Commander of the Atlantic Fleet, presented the three-dollar coin to Carl Reeser of Irving Shipbuilding to place on the keel of the ship. Mr. Reeser then received the two-dollar bill. The four-dollar coin will be presented to the sponsor. The five-dollar bill will remain on the ship and be kept by the captain as a relic.
During the keel laying period, the ship is not called by its name but by the builder’s hull number, and the ship’s naming ceremony is held later at the launch. It is understood that the name of the ship was not changed during the construction process.
The shipyard number is the serial number of the hull built by the company. The ship that later became HMCS Harry DeWolf was hull number 103 of Irving Shipbuilding. Typically, a plaque with the manufacturer’s name and number is on the aft bulkhead of the bridge.
The keel-laying ceremony for Irving Hull 103, which will become Her Majesty’s Ship Harry DeWolf, is a welcome development and a sign of the rebuilding of the Royal Canadian Navy. To maintain a strong shipbuilding industry and navy, Canada anticipates maintaining the ongoing shipbuilding program beyond the current projects and laying additional keels for the Royal Canadian Navy in keeping with naval and seafaring customs and traditions.
Different Types of Keels in Shipping
There are three types of keels:
- Flat keel
- Bar keel
- Channel keel.
Flat Keel
A flat beam is a solid plate supported by a frame around the perimeter of the ship. It should be thicker than the adjacent plates, and its thickness should be uniform in the middle of the hull, i.e., three-fifths of the length. It may taper towards the ends of the ship and is common on most ocean-going ships. Flat beams can be installed on single or double-bottom structures. In single-bottom hull designs, the flat beam plates form an I-shaped cross-section with a vertical longitudinal center plate above it and horizontal plates above the longitudinal beams.
The vertical longitudinal beam is called the keel plate, and the vertical plate above it is called the keel plate. In double-bottom ship construction, the flat keel forms a solid I-shaped section with a vertical plate (usually called the center keel) and a horizontal plate (forming part of the tank top).
Bar Keel
A trough beam has a steel bar in the center, called a bark beam. This bar consists of a bar supported by a frame around the ship. This bar was originally used when shipbuilding switched from wood to steel. Bar Keel consists of flat bars or plates of depth and thickness manufactured to the requirements of the classification society. It is stronger and heavier than the flat bark beam. The plates on either side of the bark beam are called gaff plates. They are usually single-bottom construction supported by a solid floor with or without a central girder plate.
It is less common in modern ships but more common in smaller vessels such as ferries, tugboats, and boats that are more prone to grounding. Bark keels do not provide enough strength for larger ships as there is no direct connection between the keel and the floor. Therefore, strip beams are replaced by flat beams on larger ships.
Channel pattern
The channel beam is used in ships with double-bottom hulls. It consists of solid plates welded into a box shape to form an internal watertight channel running the length of the ship, usually from the collision bulkhead to the forward machinery bulkhead. It consists of a longitudinal beam with a distance of at least 1.83 meters between them. This distance must not be exceeded, as the beam must be supported by beam blocks when moored. Transverse reinforcement or bracing is usually installed on the interior floor between the joists and rafters.
