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.
STS Young Endeavour was generously gifted to Australia in 1988 to commemorate the Australian Bicentenary. For more than three decades, the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme (YEYS) has utilised STS Young Endeavour to provide valuable leadership development and sail training opportunities to Australian youth.
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 of 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 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 80 guests, industry leaders, and Commonwealth representatives gathered to witness this ceremony, affirming its significance for Birdon and Australia’s shipbuilding capability. Awarded the contract to design and construct the STS Young Endeavour Replacement in 2022, Birdon initiated construction at its Port Macquarie shipyard earlier this year. The vessel’s contemporary design, developed by Birdon and Dykstra Naval Architects, boasts larger dimensions and state-of-the-art features, providing enhanced opportunities for YEYS participants.
Joe Smith, Birdon’s General Manager Defence, said “The keel laying ceremony is a proud moment in the evolution of the project and is testament to the dedication of the hardworking teams at Birdon, our subcontractors, suppliers and the Department of Defence.”
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