The Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, LLC shipyard in Houma, La., yesterday hosted a keel laying ceremony for NOAA’s newest oceanographic research ship, Oceanographer.
During the ceremony, the initials of the ship’s sponsor, Linda Kwok Schatz, wife of U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, were welded onto a steel plate that will be incorporated into the ship during construction. Although Oceanographer does not have a traditional keel due to modern shipbuilding methods, the ceremony was in keeping with...