Two coins for the Queen Anne keel laying ceremony pictured in the keel where they will be welded. One was an original 18th coin from the reign of Queen Anne, the second was a solid silver coin struck for Cunard to mark the occasion. Client: Cunard. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2022. Photograph by Christopher Ison © 07544044177 chris@christopherison.com www.christopherison.com IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING IMAGE LICENCING FOR THIS PHOTOGRAPH: This image is supplied to the client under the terms previously agree. No sales are permitted unless expressly agreed in writing by the photographer.
Queen Anne News and events

Celebrating the Keel Laying of Queen Anne

The arrival of our 249th ship, Queen Anne, marks a very special time for Cunard. We are excited to continue celebrating each and every step of her creation, the next of which is known as the Keel Laying.

3 min 08 Sep 2022

Cunard

Author

This significant moment in Queen Anne’s history took place in September 2022, at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy. The ceremony was attended by the Fincantieri shipyard team and Carnival leadership team, as well as selected journalists. The Captain of Queen Anne, Inger Klein Thorhauge, attended as our guest of honour.

The troncone section of Queen Anne in the Fincantieri shipyard in Venice, Italy. Client: Cunard. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2022. Photograph by Christopher Ison © 07544044177 chris@christopherison.com www.christopherison.com IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING IMAGE LICENCING FOR THIS PHOTOGRAPH: This image is supplied to the client under the terms previously agree. No sales are permitted unless expressly agreed in writing by the photographer.

A maritime tradition

Steeped in tradition, the Keel Laying ceremony is designed to bring luck to a ship during her construction, and to her Captain and crew while she is in service. 

 

The keel of a ship is her main structural element. It’s the backbone that runs from stem to stern, supporting the entire hull. 

 

The laying of the keel is in essence the formal recognition of the start of construction, and the ceremony heralds the completion of the intensive design and development stage.

Captain of Queen Anne, Inger Thorhauge prepares to weld the ceremonial coins into place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera during the keel laying ceremony. Venice, Italy. Client: Cunard. Picture date: Thursday September 8, 2022. Photograph by Christopher Ison © 07544044177 chris@christopherison.com www.christopherison.com IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING IMAGE LICENCING FOR THIS PHOTOGRAPH: This image is supplied to the client under the terms previously agree. No sales are permitted unless expressly agreed in writing by the photographer.

Marking the occasion

To mark the occasion and acknowledge the significance of old and new, a unique Queen Anne coin has been commissioned to sit alongside an original coin from her namesake’s reign. Together, these were embedded into the ship by Captain Thorhauge.

 

As we watch Queen Anne take shape, we are reminded of our journey thus far. A journey of more than 180 years. A ship inspired by our past and built for our future, Queen Anne represents a sense of excitement for what lies ahead.

Watch the Keel Laying ceremony

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