Keel Laying Ceremony
The Keel Laying Ceremony for WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) occurred on her “hull number date.”
August 27, 2025 (8/27)
Every U.S. Navy ship begins its life with a ceremonial keel laying, a centuries-old tradition that symbolizes the start of construction and the strength of the ship yet to come. For Wisconsin (SSBN 827), this milestone connects our proud naval heritage with the Sailors who will one day serve aboard her.
Watch the WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) Keel Laying Ceremony
The official Keel Laying Ceremony, hosted by General Dynamics Electric Boat and WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) Ship’s Sponsor, Dr. Kelly Geurts, was held at 9am CDT on August 27, 2025 in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. This historic ceremony in which Dr. Kelly Geurts, proclaimed WISCONSIN's keel to be “truly and fairly laid,” is available to watch.
Keel Laying Watch Parties
Keel Laying Watch Parties were held across Wisconsin and in Virginia, allowing Wisconsinites and friends of the Navy and the Submarine Force to experience this unique and timeless naval tradition. Many sincere thanks to our Keel Laying Watch Parties hosts!
Click on the links below for a recap of each of the Watch Parties, including photos, highlights and media coverage.
Manitowoc
Wisconsin Maritime Museum
Milwaukee
Milwaukee Navy League and
Marquette University Naval ROTC
Norfolk
Nauticus
Madison
Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Superior
Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center
Co-hosted with
United States Submarine Veterans: Western Lake Superior Base
Oshkosh
Wittman Regional Airport
The Keel Laying Ceremony
The Keel Laying Ceremony symbolizes when the ship begins to transition from design to reality by marking the formal recognition of the start of a ship's construction.
In earlier times, the Keel Laying was the "laying down" of the central or main timber making up the backbone of a vessel. Today, fabrication of the ship may begin months before some of the ship's bottom may actually be joined. However, the Keel Laying Ceremony (also referred to as the Keel Authentication Ceremony) symbolically recognizes the joining of modular components and the ceremonial beginning of construction of a ship.
During the Keel Laying ceremony, the Ship’s Sponsor, Dr. Kelly Geurts, will authenticate the keel by welding her initials onto a metal plate. The plate with her initials will then be permanently affixed to the ship and Dr. Geurts will proclaim the keel to be “truly and fairly laid”.