Crossing the Equator – or Hazing at Sea

At 10 am October 6, 2008 we crossed the Equator.  Apparently there is a rite that is performed on crew members of ships who have never crossed the Equator before.  A Rite of Passage per se. 

 

On board our ship it was very theatrical and held on the pool deck at the aft of the boat.  The crew members are put on trial before crew members acting as Neptune and his wife.  There is a crew member who acts as the judge and the jury are made up of the senior officers of the ship. 

 

Essentially the “guilty crew members” or “initiates”  also known as “Pollywogs”  are led out by other crew members who act as pirates.  They hold the prisoners in chains.  The Pollywogs are led out in front of Neptune by their departments and then are accused by the judge of whatever crimes.  After the crimes are declared Neptune orders them cleansed.  This involves kissing the carcass of a rotting fish and then being covered in all sorts of disgusting, slimy and messy materials.   After this Neptune asks the jury to determine if they “sink” or “swim.”  If they choose “sink” they are forced onto a plank to jump into the back pool (salt water).  If they are given mercy then they walk away (messy of course)

 

It was real good fun and a great way to start the day.  But more importantly we’ve crossed the equator and are in the southern hemisphere now and only one day left  before we reach American Samoa on Wednesday.