Que é o batimento da quilha? Veja:

Tradições do Mar
... O primeiro evento dessa vida é o batimento da quilha, uma cerimónia no estaleiro, na qual a primeira peça estrutural que integrará o navio é posicionada ...
www.mar.mil.br/Marinha_do_Brasil/tradicoes/o_navio.htm


Agora veja estes exemplos em inglês:

The Goals Of Battleships Carriers And All Other Warships
... Builder, keel laying date, keel launching/christening date/ship commissioning date/ship status at present. If possible, a complete history of the class ...
www.warships1.com/index_help/

Photos from the Keel Laying of Virginia-class Submarines
... Photos from the Keel Laying Ceremonies of Virginia-Class Submarines KEEL LAYING PHOTOS. Photos from the Christening Ceremonies of Virginia-Class ...
www.sublant.navy.mil/vaclass_keel.html

1972 Keel Laying
... The Keel Laying Ceremony celebrates the laying of the first timber and ...
SSN-688 Keel Laying. This is actually the first hull ring as submarines do ...
www.la-ex.org/View_Photos/ 1972_Keel_Laying/1972_keel_laying.html


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Note added at 15 mins (2005-03-19 14:25:20 GMT)
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O link correto para o último exemplo acima é:
www.la-ex.org/View_Photos/1972_Keel_Laying/1972_keel_laying...