A big floater

On January 5th 2010, Cunard "floated out" it's newest ship, the Queen Elizabeth at a shipyard ceremony in Italy.

Queen Elizabeth met the sea for the first time following a special float out ceremony at shipbuilder Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard, near Trieste, Italy.

"Floating Out" is the name given to the process of removnig the blocks from the ship - they fill the dry dock with water so that the ship bears its own weight and truly becomes a "ship". They can only do it once the ship's hull is complete so it's a major step forwards in the life-cycle of a ship.

Hundreds of shipyard workers, members of the media and assorted dignitaries gathered for the ceremony which followed a traditional coin ceremony in which a set of coins was welded beneath the ship's mast to bring the vessel good luck.

Three coins were specially chosen for this occasion: a half crown from 1938, the year the first Queen Elizabeth was launched; a sovereign from 1967, the year of the launch of QE2; and a sovereign dated 2010 to commemorate the year of the new ship's launch. The coins were acquired from a specialist shop in London.

Peter Shanks, Cunard's President and Managing Director, told the crowd "Of our 170 years of history there has been an 'Elizabeth' in the fleet for over 70, and this ship, the second largest Cunarder ever built, will take the name far into the 21st century."

As part of an age-old Italian shipyard tradition, a "Madrina" (the Italian name for a Godmother) has already been chosen and named for Queen Elizabeth. She is 79-year-old Florence (Dennie) Farmer, a loyal Cunard passenger for many years and widow of the late Willie Farmer, who joined Cunard in 1938 and served as chief engineer on both Queen Elizabeth and QE2.