1. Shipbuilding Stages
On December 2002, the Institute "NAUDOMO" started the shipbuilding of the Minoan ship, in the area of Eastern Venetian dockyards of the Chania old Harbor. The technical support of shipbuilding was assigned by the Maritime Museum of Crete to a local traditional shipyard. The phase of shipbuilding was completed with the ceremony of launching that took place on December 1 st , 2003.
Thus, a semi-cylindrical body was created which started to close and was strapped in order to form the ship. (There were not any ship- sections at that time).
The tree trunks are tightened at the bow and the stern. The "raft" takes the shape of a ship.
Trunks are put to support the ship and the amendments are made, so that the hull takes its final shape.
Subsequently, the frame "A" is placed. Two thick one-piece tree trunks hold the tegument of the ship and shape the ram of the bow.
The shell of the ship is covered with several layers of cloth, imbued in a mixture (fat-resin) for sealing purposes.
The ship is getting out of the dockyard for the first test launch on a specially constructed trailer.
2. Launching
The official launching of the ship was celebrated magnificently at Chania on December 1st 2003 in the presence of the President of Hellenic Republic.
The President of Hellenic Republic Mr. K. Stefanopoulos in the presence of several officials. (In the background one can see the Venetian dockyard, where the Permanent Exhibition will be held.
The Chairman of the Maritime Museum of Crete presents the program and the targets of the museum for the utility of the ship.
Religious ceremony officiated by Metropolitan Bishop of Kudonia and Apokoronas Reverend Irineos.
The President of the Republic names the ship "Minoa" and wishes "safe voyages, spreading our naval traditions around the world". He cuts symbolically the ribbon of the launching (which holds the Director of the program. Vice- Admiral A. Kourtis).
