The bronze plaque recognizing the plank owners of Atlas is unveiled in the South Yard. From left are Matt Cutrone, senior docking engineer; Delaney Compeau, D496 engineer; and Atlas Sponsor Elizabeth Xenelis.
Employees who have worked on Atlas, EB’s new state-of-the-art floating dry dock, gathered in the South Yard on Wednesday, Aug. 26, to unveil a new bronze plaque recognizing the contributions of its plank owners.
The event celebrated the teams who helped bring Atlas from Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana to its arrival in Groton earlier this year. Atlas will play an essential role in the construction and sustainment of the Columbia‑class submarine program.
The 150‑pound bronze plaque—designed by EB’s Graphic Design team and cast by Connecticut-based New England Sign Carvers—will eventually be mounted on Atlas’s Central Control House, high above the Thames River.
Atlas Sponsor Elizabeth Xenelis offered a heartfelt tribute to the men and women behind the project. “Today, we honor the plank owners whose skill and dedication brought Atlas to life,” she said. She described Atlas as “a true harbor of strength, a testament to American engineering and the mariners who keep our undersea fleet at the ready, serving our team and our sailors with enduring pride and unwavering safety.”
Elizabeth broke the ceremonial champagne at Atlas’s christening on Oct. 10, 2025. A ship’s sponsor is a civilian—traditionally a woman—appointed to bestow good luck and divine protection upon a newly build vessel and maintain a lifelong connection to the ship and its crew.
With the plaque revealed, employees took a moment to reflect on Atlas’s importance and the teamwork behind its completion. As Atlas moves toward full operational support of vital submarine work, today’s ceremony celebrated the craftsmanship and commitment that continue to shape EB’s future.
