SeaRoad’s new Bass Strait ship

The first milestone in the construction of SeaRoad’s new ship took place on 29 February 2016 with the laying of the keel at the Flensburger shipyard.

Laying the keel is the formal recognition of the start of a ship’s construction. Modern ships are now largely built in a series of prefabricated, complete hull sections rather than being built around a single keel. The modern day keel laying ceremony is the first joining of these modular components, and is the ceremonial beginning of the ship’s life, although the modules were started approximately six months prior to the ceremony.

Keel-related traditions, from the times of wooden ships, are said to bring luck to the ship during construction and to the captain and crew during her later life. The Coin Ceremony, which took place at the keel laying is recorded in the video clip link. SeaRoad’s Chairman, Chas Kelly, together with Dale Emmerton, National Manager, Marine & Terminals and Graeme Coster, Ship Project Manager, are shown below placing newly minted coins under the keelblock to bless the ship and as a symbol of good fortune.

The ship build project is on schedule with our new vessel to be operating in Bass Strait before the end of 2016.