Fincantieri laid the first piece of steel for Regent Seven Seas Cruises'(RSSC) newbuild at its yard in Genoa, Italy, on 21 January.

The ceremony marked a significant milestone in Seven Seas Explorer's construction, bringing the ship closer to July 2016 debut.

During the ceremony, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom transported three symbolic coins to the keel laying event, before they were placed on a pillow bya butler and carried to the ship.

The coins included a rare 1921 US silver coin known as the Peace Dollar, which symbolises the safe passage of Seven Seas Explorer; a 1959 silverItalian Lire representing the year the Fincantieri shipyard was established; and a commemorative coin specially minted for the occasion.

All three coins were welded into the newbuild's keel by Jason Montague, president and COO of Regent Seven Seas Cruises; Robin Lindsay, executivevice president of vessel operations; and Franco Semeraro, senior vice president of hotel operations. The building block was then lowered into the drydock.

Earlier this month, RSSC revealed Seven Seas Explorer is to offer the line's first 3,875 sq ft suite, as well as lounges, gourmet restaurants andmore.

To read the complete article, see:
Fincantieri lays the keel forRegent Seven Seas newbuild (www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/Fincantieri-lays-the-keel-for-Regent-Seven-Seas-newbuild#.VMQ-N_4VhYE)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
STEPPING THE MAST IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n17a15.html)
STEPPING THE MAST: COINS OF THE BLUENOSE II (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n02a20.html)
STEPPING OF THE MAST: MADDIE JAMES' FAVORITE COIN(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n16a26.html)
STEPPING THE MAST OF THE WHALING SHIP CHARLES W. MORGAN(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n43a25.html)