Keel laying
Videos
Laying the keel or laying down is the formal recognition of the start of a ship's construction. It is often marked with a ceremony attended by dignitaries from the shipbuilding company and the ultimat
Driving the first or "golden" rivet during USS Missouri's keel laying, 1941
Laying of the keel of USCGC Mariposa (WLB-397) in 1943
Keel laying ceremony for USS Freedom (LCS-1), 2005. Note the pre-fabricated module in the background.
Hull number
Videos
A hull number is a serial identification number given to a boat or ship. For the military, a lower number implies an older vessel. For civilian use, the Hull Identification Number is used to trace the
The hull number visible on both sides of the bow of USS Arleigh Burke, DDG-51
Russian SU-85 with a hull number 222