At Sea - Crossing the Line Ceremony

Time-honored tradition of a sailor at sea is the celebrate the crossing of the equator with a visit from King Neptune.  With ceremony, each "pollywog" is inducted into Neptune's realm as a "shellback".

Crewmembers of King Neptune's court line up in costume onboard the USS New Jersey to begin the ceremony.  Typically it would take 30 to 50 crewmembers to assist with the induction of new crewmembers.  At right, members of

 King Neptune's court pose for a photograph at the end of events.  Richard by this time of his career was a Shellback and could take photographs during the events.

At right sailors wait in line for a shave and a dunk while other crew members look on from above in boat davits and the deck above.

At left a group of sailors wait in the bath below for their next shipmate.  This bath typically included tar, oil, and the stomachs of the previous sailor having recently consumed the tonic provided by the barber at the previous station.

At the end of the ceremony sailors normally had a clean stomach and were ready for a shower.  They each received a certificate documenting their achievement and all felt they had completed a right of passage that they would remember for the rest of their life.