Construction of Young Endeavour II has commenced officially at the Birdon shipyard in Port Macquarie. The Keel Laying Ceremony celebrated this critical milestone in the Commonwealth Government’s acquisition of a unique vessel to replace the brigantine Sail Training Ship (STS) Young Endeavour.
Commodore Ashley Papp CSC, RAN, on behalf of Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, and Tammy Bugler, Co-Owner and Chief Financial Officer at Birdon, each laid coins on the keel, preserving Naval tradition to bestow good fortune upon the vessel construction and all who sail onboard.
Commodore Ashley Papp CSC, RAN shared the motto inscribed on the special coin surrounding the Chief of Navy crest, “Service before Self”, explaining that “these three words epitomise what we in the Navy look to. That is, each of us through our knowledge, skill and experience can contribute to the efforts of the whole organisation”.
Over eighty distinguished guests, industry leaders, and Commonwealth Representatives gathered to witness the ceremony, affirming its significance for Birdon and Australia’s shipbuilding capability.
Joe Smith, Birdon’s General Manager Defence, said “The keel laying Ceremony is a proud moment in the evolution of the project and is a testament to the dedication of the hard-working teams at Birdon, our subcontractors, suppliers, and the Department of Defence.”