You would probably think it’s something to do with sports and games. But in the sea, is there such a line? Haa.hha… Strangely I did find out onboard the Akpo FPSO vessel as we sailed across the Indian Ocean expanse.
Rituals and traditions have certainly got the better of mankind even in the mighty seas as I had discovered. One of the most famous of all rituals in practice was the “Crossing the Line” ceremony which is widely observed on most sea faring vessels. Here is a brief info on this practice.
The “line” in question actually refers to the nautical reference for the Equator, and, for the common seamen, crossing this invisible boundary from north to south marks the point at which everything becomes strange and backwards. Seasons are reversed, the sun starts traveling on the northern edge of the sky, and they lose their ever-present night guide, the Northern Star. This Crossing the Line is therefore seen as an occasion worthy of celebration by the vessel’s crew. It is a time where the rules of authority and ownership are suspended altogether under a ruling authority of Neptune (referring to the Roman God of the oceans).
The ceremony is quite simple. On that day the vessel crosses the Line (equator), all crew are summoned to main deck to appear before a kind of court presided over by Neptune and his entourage, all played by senior seamen onboard. The character playing “Neptune” is often the most seasoned. His costume consists of all of the traditional accoutrements, including beard, net, and trident. Usually he is accompanied by his “wife,” a comic and/or somewhat humiliating role, depending on who it is assigned to. There are also an assortment of guards, a jester, and other members of a royal court. A proclamation is then read which goes to say that Neptune has received word that some new seamen (onboard) are crossing his royal boundary without permission, and he demands retribution. What follows is a series of
humiliating and disgusting “punishments” for the new comers. These could include shaving your hair, smearing your face and head with all kinds of nasty refuse. Once they are thru these messy trials successfully, they are officially pronounced fit to freely navigate the seas and have attained the right to inflict the same on future new comers.
It was quite amusing to see this ritual in practice in these modern days though it was done on much a lighter scale onboard our vessel and was later followed by sumptuous dinner.
