Date keel laid
The date on which construction of the vessel formally began, traditionally marked by the laying of the keel or, in modern construction, the first permanent structural element of the hull.
Few moments in a vessel's life carry as much significance as the day the keel is laid. For the builder, it is the first irreversible commitment of material and labour. For the owner, it is the day their yacht begins to exist — not as a drawing or a contract, but as a physical structure that will one day carry them to sea.
Traditionally marked by a ceremony — a coin placed beneath the keel for good fortune — the keel laying date has endured as the single most important milestone in a vessel's construction history.
What is the keel laying date?
The keel laying date records when construction of the vessel formally began. In traditional boatbuilding, this was the moment the keel — the structural backbone of the hull — was placed on the building stocks. In modern construction, where hulls may be moulded rather than built up from a keel, the date marks the laying of the first permanent structural element.
Regardless of construction method, the keel laying date establishes the vessel's age and serves as the reference point for every time-based obligation that follows.
Why it matters
The keel laying date is not just a historical record — it has direct legal, regulatory, and commercial consequences throughout the life of the vessel:
-
Regulatory compliance
Maritime regulations frequently apply based on when a vessel was built. A yacht with a keel laid before a specific date may be exempt from — or subject to — particular safety, structural, or environmental requirements. Flag state authorities and classification societies use this date to determine which edition of their rules applies.
-
Warranty and insurance
Builder warranties, equipment warranties, and hull insurance terms often reference the keel laying date as the start of the vessel's lifecycle. The age of the vessel — derived from this date — directly influences insurance premiums, survey requirements, and policy terms.
-
Valuation and resale
A vessel's market value is closely tied to its age. The keel laying date provides an objective, verifiable build date that buyers, brokers, and surveyors rely on. It is distinct from the launch date or delivery date, which may be months or years later for larger builds.
-
CE marking and design category
For vessels built in or imported into the EU, the keel laying date determines whether the Recreational Craft Directive applies and which edition of the harmonised standards governs the CE category assessment.
-
Survey scheduling
Classification societies and insurers schedule condition surveys, hull inspections, and special surveys based on vessel age. Getting the keel date wrong means surveys are scheduled against the wrong timeline.
Keel laid vs. launch date vs. delivery date
These three dates are frequently confused but record different events:
| Date | What it records |
|---|---|
| Keel laid | Construction formally begins — first permanent structural element |
| Launch date | Vessel enters the water for the first time |
| Delivery date | Vessel is handed over to the owner — warranties typically begin here |
For a production yacht, these dates may be weeks apart. For a custom superyacht, the gap between keel laying and delivery can be two to five years. All three should be recorded — regulatory obligations reference the keel date, while commercial obligations typically reference the delivery date.
Tracked in YachtPrep
| Name | Date keel laid |
| Description | The date on which construction of the vessel formally began, traditionally marked by the laying of the keel or, in modern construction, the first permanent structural element of the hull. |
| Entities | Yacht Plans Stability Book |