Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard held the keel laying ceremony on July 2 for the 'Queen Elizabeth', ordered by Carnival group for the British shipowner, Cunard Line.
The section laid in the dry dock is approximately 14 metres long, 32.2 wide and weighs 468 tonnes.
Following the 'Queen Victoria', built at the Marghera shipyard in 2007, the delivery of the new passenger vessel is scheduled for the northern autumn 2010.
Present at the ceremony were Carol Marlow, President and General Director of Cunard Line, and, representing Fincantieri, Paolo Capobianco, Head of Monfalcone shipyard.
The 'Queen Elizabeth', at approximately 294 metres long and with a gross tonnage of around 92,000 tonnes, will be able to accommodate in her 1,046 cabins, over 2,500 guests in addition to a crew of 1,097.
The Queen Elizabeth will be the second largest ship ordered to date by the owner following the 'Queen Mary'.