The first building block of Australia's new icebreaker was welded into place at a keel laying ceremony at Damen Shipyard Galati in Romania late last month.

The concept design was done by Knud E. Hansen, and Managing Director, Finn Wollesen attended the ceremony, along with Rasmus Nygaard from Friends of Nella Dan. They came bearing a Danish coin, depicting the Danish Crown Prince Frederik, and his wife - Princess Mary, who originates from Australia.

The choice of another coin was also symbolic; it was a Dutch silver coin dated 1642, the year that Dutch explorer Abel Tasman become the first European to reach Tasmania. Tasmania is not only where the offices of the Australian Antarctic Division are located, but the island's capital, Hobart, will be the vessel's home port.

The heavy icebreaker was designed for the Australian Government to resupply their Antarctic bases and for research and scientific work.

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Symbolic Coins Laid in Keel of Australia's New Icebreaker(http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/
symbolic-coins-laid-in-keel-of-australias-new-icebreaker)