Bath Iron Works is gearing up for another massive celebration marking the christening of the world’s second Zumwalt-class destroyer.

The future USS Michael Monsoor — registry DDG 1001 — will be christened during ceremonies beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Bath shipyard.

The DDG-1001 is named after Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a U.S. Navy SEAL who was a Master-at- Arms assigned to SEAL Team 3, Delta Platoon and served as a heavy weapons machine gunner and SEAL communicator. He was deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq where he served as a combat adviser to Iraqi Army troops. His unit came under fire on 75 percent of its missions, and his leadership was credited with saving the lives of his comrades during 11 combat operations.

Monsoor was killed in Ramadi, Iraq on Sept. 29, 2006. Monsoor was 25 years old and part of a sniper overwatch security position with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi soldiers. An insurgent threw a hand grenade into their position. The grenade hit Monsoor in the chest and fell to the ground. Positioned near the single exit, Monsoor was the only one who could have escaped harm.

Instead, he dropped onto the grenade to shield the others from the blast. His actions saved the lives of his fellow teammates.

Monsoor’s other awards and decorations include: The Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Rifle Marksmanship Medal with Expert Marksmanship Device, Pistol Marksmanship Medal with Expert Marksmanship Device and the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia.

Monsoor’s mother, Sally Monsoor, is the ship’s sponsor. Several family members are also serving as matrons of honor during the ceremony.

The principal speaker is Joseph Maguire, who joined the Special Operations Warrior Foundation after he retired from the U.S. Navy in 2010 as a vice admiral, following a career spent as a naval special warfare officer.

In 2013, Maguire took the helm of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides full financial assistance for a post-secondary degree to the children of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel who have died in service to their country. The foundation also contributes financial assistance to special operations personnel who have been severely wounded and provides family and educational counseling.

Also scheduled to speak is Vice Adm. Sean A. Pybus, Deputy Commander of Special Operations Command, and Janine Davidson, Undersecretary of the Navy. Maine’s congressional delegation will also speak as will Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and NASSCO.

The 610-foot-long Monsoor boasts an 80.7-foot beam and displaces 15,761 tons of water fully loaded. With a wave-piercing tumble-home hull, the Monsoor can travel at more than 30 knots and house a crew of 158, including an aviation detachment. The armament includes two 155 mm Advanced Gun Systems, two MK46 30 mm Close in Gun Systems and the Peripheral Vertical Launch System.

Following the ceremony, the ship will begin to transition from the shipyard’s Land Level Transfer Facility to the dry dock. The dry dock will move into the middle of the Kennebec River and be ballasted, allowing the ship to float off. Tugboats will then move the ship alongside the LLTF on the west side of the Kennebec.

Construction of Monsoor began in 2010. The keel was laid May 23, 2013, and will eventually be bound for its homeport in San Diego, California.

The Zumwalt-class destroyers are the U.S. Navy’s new generation of advanced multi-mission surface combat ships. The vessels feature a low radar profile, an integrated power system and a total ship computing environment infrastructure, and will provide offensive, distributed and precision fires in support of forces ashore, according to BIW.

The first ship of its class, the future USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), the lead ship of the Zumwalt-class program, was christened in April 2014, and was delivered to the Navy on May 20. Construction of the Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002), the third destroyer in the program, continues at the shipyard.

A ship christening is one of the oldest naval traditions. Many seafaring civilizations have maintained a tradition of formally dedicating a ship into their fleet. Although it has changed dramatically across centuries, this tradition nonetheless remains one of the most important events in today’s Navy.

Today certain practices are in place to align the christening with modern times. For example, the bottle is stored at room temperature to enhance the champagne’s fizz, making a better photo opportunity. As a safety precaution, the bottle is usually placed inside a protective mesh netting to prevent flying glass.

Not everyone will be celebrating, however. Local activist Bruce Gagnon has announced that a protest of the christening will also be held on June 18 at BIW from 9 a.m. to noon along Washington Street. According to Gagnon, the activists warn of escalating arms races with China and Russia and instead call for the creation of more rail and clean energy systems.

• THE DDG-1001 is named after Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a U.S. Navy SEAL who was a Master-at-Arms assigned to SEAL Team 3, Delta Platoon and served as a heavy weapons machine gunner and SEAL communicator. He was killed in Ramadi, Iraq on Sept. 29, 2006.