keelswab

Keelswab is a term with limited and informal attestation in maritime contexts. It generally refers to a swab or cleaning applicator used in the maintenance of a vessel’s keel, the central structural element that runs along the bottom of a ship. In practical use, a keelswab may be employed to wipe, apply cleaning solutions, or apply protective coatings to the keel area or to tight recesses along the hull where larger tools cannot reach.

Design and use vary by context, but keelswabs are typically hand-held tools with a long handle and a flexible or replaceable applicator tip or absorbent material. They are chosen to access confined spaces between ballast tanks, along keel seams, or in other hard-to-reach zones where residue, fouling, or moisture needs to be managed. The term is not part of a standardized equipment taxonomy and may appear in crew handbooks, shipyard procedures, or hobbyist discussions rather than formal naval manuals.

Etymology follows a straightforward construction from keel and swab, indicating a swabbing or cleaning action directed at the keel. Variants and brand-specific names may exist in different fleets or regions, but there is no universally recognized standard definition.

See also hull cleaning, anti-fouling coatings, marine maintenance tools. References are sparse in formal glossaries, and the term is primarily encountered in practical or anecdotal maritime literature rather than official standards.