As you embark on your career at sea you will (I assume) at one point end up “crossing the line” the line that’s being referred to is the equator. The line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person’s first crossing of the Equator. The tradition may have originated with ceremonies when passing headlands, as a boost to morale, or have been created as a test for seasoned sailors to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long, rough voyages.
Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are common in the Navy and are also sometimes carried out for passengers’ entertainment on civilian ocean liners and cruise ships. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships.
After the crossing, you will be awarded a “certificate” to certify the date and time you made the crossing.
A note to add. Many shipping companies have imposed strict rules on how a “hazing” or equator crossing can be carried out. People get carried away and ruin it for the rest of us. The ceremony should be fun and looked forward to a time in your maritime career.
i got my head shaved and covered in fish guts (the smell was so bad that one member of the crew vomited) . but it was all good fun.
