The keel laying ceremony of the first CSL-Hartmann 40,000 DWT self-unloader was held at Chengxi shipyard on December 5, 2019. 

This important milestone took place when the first prefabricated section or mega block was lowered onto the slipway, representing the official start of the new vessel’s construction.

During the ceremony, it is an old shipbuilding tradition to place coins on the keel blocks where the section will be lowered for good luck. CSL’s Eric McKenzie and Hartmann’s Michael Jäger had the honour of placing the coins.

Exactly 79 days after the first keel laying, the next major milestone will take place when the vessel will launched and the naming ceremony will be held.

To date, 29 of the 152 ship blocks have been lowered onto the slipway.