Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding has held a keel authentication ceremony for the USS Arlington, the Navy’s eighth amphibious transport dock ship.

The ship was named for Arlington County, Va., where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, killing nearly 200 people. The ceremony was held Thursday at Northrop’s shipyard in Pascagoula.

The 684-foot-long, 105-foot-wide ship vessel will carry a crew of 360 sailors and three Marines.

Ron Carlee, who was manager of Arlington County at the time of the attack, authenticated the keel. His initials were welded onto a plaque that will be permanently affixed to the ship.

The USS Arlington is one of three ships being built to honor the heroes and victims of Sept. 11.