Construction
Construction Timeline
Keel Laying: September 1, 2021
- Small ceremony – the start of construction of a ship.
- Ship’s Sponsor is Kate Mabus, daughter of Former Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus
- Although no true ‘keel’ on an SSN, the sponsor initials a steel plate and mounted permanently in the ship.
- The Keel Laying Ceremony will be broadcast live on General Dynamic’s website (gdeb.com) on September 1, 2021 and will be posted here afterwards.
Christening: Saturday October 25, 2025
- Christening is a shipyard ceremony designed to celebrate the float off or ‘wetting’ of the ship.
- Unlike in days past, submarines no longer ‘slide down the ways”.
- Ceremony culminated in the traditional bottle break of sparkling wine with about 3,000 attending.
Commissioning: 2026
- Formal induction of the ship into the fleet.
- Culminating event with about 6000 attending.
Keel Laying
The keel laying is the formal recognition of the start of a ship’s construction. In earlier times it was the “laying down” of the central or main timber making up the backbone of a vessel. Today, fabrication of the ship may begin months before and some of the ship’s bottom may actually be joined. However, the keel laying ceremony (also referred to as the keel authentication ceremony) symbolically recognizes the joining of modular components and the ceremonial beginning of a ship.
Keel Laying ceremony video for USS Indiana
Christening
The official launching ceremony recognizing the “floating” of a ship by name and marked with the traditional breaking of a bottle of champagne across the bow. The blessing of ships dates as far back as the third millennium BC, when the ancient Babylonians, according to a narrative, sacrificed an oxen to the gods upon completion of a ship. Throughout history, different cultures developed and shaped the religious ceremony surrounding a ship launching. Today the christening is often conducted before the launching. The ship’s sponsors who are most often women break the bottom of champagne and ceremonially give the ship its name. The first recorded christening of a United States Navy ship is USS Constitution, on Oct. 21, 1797 in Boston, where the ship’s sponsor, Capt. James Sever, broke a bottle of wine across the bow as “Old Ironsides” slid into the water.
Christening ceremony video for USS Indiana
Commissioning
The commissioning ceremony marks the acceptance of a ship as a unit of the operating forces of the United States Navy. At the moment of breaking the commissioning pennant, the ship will “come alive” and the crew will ceremonially run aboard ship. Thereafter the ship is officially referred to as a United States Ship (USS).
The act of placing a ship in commission marks her entry into active Navy service. At the moment when the commissioning pennant is broken at the masthead, a ship becomes a Navy command in her own right and takes her place alongside the other active ships of the Fleet.
This ceremony continues a centuries old tradition, observed by navies around the world, and by our own Navy since December 1775, when Alfred, the first ship of the Continental Navy, was commissioned at Philadelphia. Once in commission, the commanding officer and crew are entrusted with the privilege, and the responsibility, of maintaining their ship’s readiness in peace, and of conducting successful operations at sea in time of war.
No written procedure for commissioning was laid down in our Navy’s early days, but the act of commissioning was familiar, derived from established British naval custom. Commissionings were simple military ceremonies. The prospective commanding officer came on board, called the crew to quarters, and formally read the orders appointing him to command. He then ordered the ensign and the commissioning pennant hoisted; at that moment the ship went into commission, and the first entry in the ship’s deck log recorded.
Preparing for Commissioning
Many milestones are completed between launching and commissioning of a ship. Below are just a few of them.
Sea Trials
Sea trials are an intense series of tests to demonstrate the satisfactory operation of all installed shipboard equipment. Sea Trials ensure that the performance of the ship as a whole is in accordance with its plans and specifications. New construction ships undergo Builder’s Trials and Acceptance Trials prior to ship’s delivery and Final Contract Trials several months after delivery and sail away.
Delivery
The official turnover of custody of a ship from the shipyard to the U.S. Navy. This private ceremony involves the Prospective Commanding Officer who actually signs for the ship. This event normally coincides with Move Aboard when the Pre-commissioning crew moves aboard and starts living, eating, standing watch, training and working aboard the ship while final work continues in the shipyard.
Sail Away
The ship’s final departure from the construction yard for its homeport or commissioning site. It signifies the end of the new construction period and the beginning of its life preparing to perform the mission it was designed to undertake.
Upcoming Events
It’s been a busy few days in Groton! Members of the USS Utah Commissioning Committee joined the crew of the USS Utah (SSN-801), submarine veterans and others at a variety of events! Thanks to Kurt Delaney at Outer Lights Brewery, Long Point Hall, Navy SubVets and so many others who welcomed us into their community […]
Christening events for the USS Utah begin Thursday, October 23, in Groton. We look forward to seeing you there! Christening Event Schedule – Final v7
The USS Utah christening will be broadcast live to the Utah State Capitol on Saturday, October 25, 2025 beginning at 7:30 a.m. The event will be held inside the east entrance, in the Presentation Room. If you can’t make it to Groton, join us at the Capitol!
Lt Nathaniel Walko, Senior Chief Dan Miller, MMN1 Wesley Bartholomew, and SSSN Kameron Smith represented the USS Utah during the Day’s of ’47. While here they participated in the Pioneer Day parade, visited the Utah Governor’s office, met with business and community leaders, were introduced at a Salt Lake Bees game and Real Salt Lake […]
Crew members of the USS Utah will celebrate Pioneer Days during their visit in July 2025. They are special guests of the Salt Lake Bees, Real Utah and the Days of 47 rodeo. Watch for them riding the submarine float with Utah’s submarine veterans during the Days of 47 Parade!
Christening for the USS Utah (SSN-801) will be held October 25, 10:00 Eastern Time, at the Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. Watch parties will be held around Utah for those who are unable to travel to the east coast. Those traveling are responsible for all travel costs. Click here for more information.
The USS Utah Memorial Sunset Ceremony held every year on December 6th honors the loss of the USS Utah (AG-16) and 58 of her crew
There are currently no upcoming events. Check back soon!
Recent News
The story of the 2 USS Utahs: Honoring the past while celebrating the future The USS Utah battleship was sunk at Pearl Harbor, but last month, a new USS Utah submarine was christened Published: Nov 10, 2025, 12:44 p.m. MST By Caitlin Keith Caitlin is a general assignment reporter with the Politics and the West […]
There were many stories over the last week about the USS-Utah christening. Here’s a partial list, let us know if you aware of others! KSL-TV https://ksltv.com/local-news/newest-submarine-uss-utah/823393/ KSTU-Fox13 https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/uss-utah-to-be-christened-as-newest-submarine-in-naval-fleet#google_vignette (This was also on FOX national news Special Report during, “Beyond the Beltway” segment.) & https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/northern-utah/veterans-reflect-on-what-the-uss-utah-meant-to-them-on-eve-of-christening#google_vignette https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fo4rFgqiC4 KTVX – ABC4Utah https://youtu.be/FA5xB6e7i3A?si=eA8MCfJ5xH0Rvvw0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA5xB6e7i3A https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/uss-utah-submarine-christening-connecticut/ KSL News Radio https://kslnewsradio.com/utah/the-us-navy-prepares-to-christen-the-uss-utah/2255462/ KSL […]
It’s been a busy few days in Groton! Members of the USS Utah Commissioning Committee joined the crew of the USS Utah (SSN-801), submarine veterans and others at a variety of events! Thanks to Kurt Delaney at Outer Lights Brewery, Long Point Hall, Navy SubVets and so many others who welcomed us into their community […]
BY JOE WIRTHLIN KSLTV.com SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Navy’s newest Virginia-class submarine will be christened the USS Utah (SSN-801) in Groton, Connecticut on Oct. 25. Approximately 3,000 people were invited to the christening, according to the USS Utah Commissioning Committee. Read the rest of the story here: https://ksltv.com/local-news/newest-submarine-uss-utah/823393/
Lt Nathaniel Walko, Senior Chief Dan Miller, MMN1 Wesley Bartholomew, and SSSN Kameron Smith represented the USS Utah during the Day’s of ’47. While here they participated in the Pioneer Day parade, visited the Utah Governor’s office, met with business and community leaders, were introduced at a Salt Lake Bees game and Real Salt Lake […]
Crew members of the USS Utah will celebrate Pioneer Days during their visit in July 2025. They are special guests of the Salt Lake Bees, Real Utah and the Days of 47 rodeo. Watch for them riding the submarine float with Utah’s submarine veterans during the Days of 47 Parade!
Follow the PCU UTAH SSN 801 Crew on Facebook here.
Documentary on the USS Montana – and the Treasure State’s long history with the U.S. Navy – will air on February 22 Montanans across the state will soon be able to watch a fascinating documentary about the nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS MONTANA and our landlocked state’s ironic relationship with the U.S. Navy for more […]