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id="toc-Early_Modern_Age-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-By_country" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#By_country"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>By country</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-By_country-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle By country subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-By_country-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Canada" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Canada"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Canada</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Canada-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-France" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#France"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>France</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-France-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-India" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#India"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>India</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-India-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Japan" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Japan"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.4</span> <span>Japan</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Japan-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-United_Kingdom" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#United_Kingdom"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5</span> <span>United Kingdom</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-United_Kingdom-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-United_States" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#United_States"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.6</span> <span>United States</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-United_States-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Incidents" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Incidents"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Incidents</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Incidents-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Further_reading" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Further_reading"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Further reading</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Further_reading-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span 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class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be mw-list-item"><a href="https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BA_%D1%81%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%9E" title="Спуск суднаў – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be" data-title="Спуск суднаў" data-language-autonym="Беларуская" data-language-local-name="Belarusian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD_%D1%81%D1%8A%D0%B4" title="Спускане на вода на плавателен съд – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Спускане на вода на плавателен съд" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avarament" title="Avarament – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Avarament" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stapellauf" title="Stapellauf – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Stapellauf" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9A%CE%B1%CE%B8%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%BA%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7" title="Καθέλκυση – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Καθέλκυση" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botadura" title="Botadura – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Botadura" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enakvigo" title="Enakvigo – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Enakvigo" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeremoniazko_ontzi_uretaratzea" title="Zeremoniazko ontzi uretaratzea – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Zeremoniazko ontzi uretaratzea" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancement_d%27un_navire" title="Lancement d'un navire – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Lancement d'un navire" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%A7%84%EC%88%98_(%EC%84%A0%EB%B0%95)" title="진수 (선박) – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="진수 (선박)" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penamaan_dan_peluncuran_kapal" title="Penamaan dan peluncuran kapal – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Penamaan dan peluncuran kapal" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varo_(nautica)" title="Varo (nautica) – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Varo (nautica)" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%98%D7%A7%D7%A1_%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%A7%D7%AA_%D7%90%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%99%D7%94" title="טקס השקת אונייה – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="טקס השקת אונייה" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%ADzre_bocs%C3%A1t%C3%A1s" title="Vízre bocsátás – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Vízre bocsátás" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penamaan_dan_pelancaran_kapal" title="Penamaan dan pelancaran kapal – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Penamaan dan pelancaran kapal" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tewaterlating" title="Tewaterlating – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Tewaterlating" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%80%B2%E6%B0%B4%E5%BC%8F" title="進水式 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="進水式" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sj%C3%B8setting" title="Sjøsetting – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Sjøsetting" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nn mw-list-item"><a href="https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sj%C3%B8setjing" title="Sjøsetjing – Norwegian Nynorsk" lang="nn" hreflang="nn" data-title="Sjøsetjing" data-language-autonym="Norsk nynorsk" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Nynorsk" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk nynorsk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wodowanie" title="Wodowanie – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Wodowanie" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lan%C3%A7amento_ao_mar" title="Lançamento ao mar – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Lançamento ao mar" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BA_%D1%81%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2" title="Спуск судов – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Спуск судов" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sj%C3%B6s%C3%A4ttning" title="Sjösättning – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Sjösättning" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th mw-list-item"><a href="https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A2%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%AD" title="พิธีปล่อยเรือ – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th" data-title="พิธีปล่อยเรือ" data-language-autonym="ไทย" data-language-local-name="Thai" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ไทย</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A6%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%96%D1%8F_%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BA%D1%83_%D1%81%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%83" title="Церемонія спуску судна на воду – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Церемонія спуску судна на воду" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%88%B9%E8%88%B6%E4%B8%8B%E6%B0%B4" title="船舶下水 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="船舶下水" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q596643#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu 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srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Sound-icon.svg/30px-Sound-icon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Sound-icon.svg/40px-Sound-icon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="96" /></a></span></div></div> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Ceremonial process of transferring a newly built vessel to the water</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Ship's name" redirects here. For name of a ship, see <a href="/wiki/Ship_name" class="mw-redirect" title="Ship name">ship name</a>.</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Launching" redirects here. Not to be confused with <a href="/wiki/Launch_(disambiguation)" class="mw-redirect mw-disambig" title="Launch (disambiguation)">Launch</a>, <a href="/wiki/Launcher_(disambiguation)" class="mw-redirect mw-disambig" title="Launcher (disambiguation)">Launcher</a>, or <a href="/wiki/The_Launching" title="The Launching">The Launching</a>.</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-Unfocused plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Ambox_important.svg/40px-Ambox_important.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Ambox_important.svg/60px-Ambox_important.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Ambox_important.svg/80px-Ambox_important.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="40" data-file-height="40" /></span></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This article <b>may lack focus or may be about more than one topic</b>. In particular, Conflates topic of title, the ceremony, with the mechanics of launching a hull. See Talk..<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help improve this article, possibly by <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Splitting" title="Wikipedia:Splitting">splitting</a> the article and/or by introducing a <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Disambiguation" title="Wikipedia:Disambiguation">disambiguation page</a>, or discuss this issue on the <a href="/wiki/Talk:Ceremonial_ship_launching" title="Talk:Ceremonial ship launching">talk page</a>.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">May 2021</span>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1251242444"><table class="box-Split plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-move" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Split-arrows.svg/50px-Split-arrows.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="17" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Split-arrows.svg/75px-Split-arrows.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Split-arrows.svg/100px-Split-arrows.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="60" data-file-height="20" /></span></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">It has been suggested that this article should be <b><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Splitting" title="Wikipedia:Splitting">split</a></b> into multiple articles. (<a href="/wiki/Talk:Ceremonial_ship_launching#Split_proposal" title="Talk:Ceremonial ship launching">discuss</a>) <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">May 2021</span>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Shipbuilding" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Shipbuilding"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Brazilian_battleship_Minas_Geraes_being_launched_1.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Brazilian_battleship_Minas_Geraes_being_launched_1.jpg/220px-Brazilian_battleship_Minas_Geraes_being_launched_1.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="144" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Brazilian_battleship_Minas_Geraes_being_launched_1.jpg/330px-Brazilian_battleship_Minas_Geraes_being_launched_1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Brazilian_battleship_Minas_Geraes_being_launched_1.jpg/440px-Brazilian_battleship_Minas_Geraes_being_launched_1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1601" data-file-height="1050" /></a><figcaption>1908 launch of the Brazilian battleship <a href="/wiki/Brazilian_battleship_Minas_Geraes" title="Brazilian battleship Minas Geraes"><i>Minas Geraes</i></a></figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><span><video id="mwe_player_0" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm/220px--Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm.jpg" controls="" preload="none" data-mw-tmh="" class="mw-file-element" width="220" height="124" data-durationhint="33" data-mwtitle="Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons" resource="/wiki/File:Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cb/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm.480p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="480p.vp9.webm" data-width="854" data-height="480" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cb/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm.720p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="720p.vp9.webm" data-width="1280" data-height="720" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-width="1280" data-height="720" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cb/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm.144p.mjpeg.mov" type="video/quicktime" data-transcodekey="144p.mjpeg.mov" data-width="256" data-height="144" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cb/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="426" data-height="240" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cb/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm.360p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="360p.vp9.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/cb/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm/Aerial_Video_of_LCS_15_Launch.webm.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /></video></span><figcaption>The U.S. Navy's future <a href="/wiki/USS_Billings" title="USS Billings">USS <i>Billings</i></a> is launched sideways into the <a href="/wiki/Menominee_River" title="Menominee River">Menominee River</a> in <a href="/wiki/Marinette,_Wisconsin" title="Marinette, Wisconsin">Marinette, Wisconsin</a></figcaption></figure> <p><b>Ceremonial ship launching</b> involves the performing of ceremonies associated with the process of transferring a vessel to the water. It is a nautical tradition in many cultures, dating back millennia, to accompany the physical process with ceremonies which have been observed as public celebration and a solemn blessing, usually but not always, in association with the launch itself. </p><p>Ship launching imposes stresses on the ship not met during normal operation and in addition to the size and weight of the vessel represents a considerable engineering challenge as well as a public spectacle. The process also involves <a href="/wiki/Sailors%27_superstitions" title="Sailors' superstitions">many traditions intended to invite good luck</a>, such as <a href="/wiki/Baptism#Boats_and_ships" title="Baptism">christening</a> by breaking a sacrificial bottle of <a href="/wiki/Champagne" title="Champagne">champagne</a> over the <a href="/wiki/Bow_(ship)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bow (ship)">bow</a> as the ship is named aloud and launched.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Methods">Methods</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Methods"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching". The oldest, most familiar, and most widely used is the end-on launch, in which the vessel slides down an inclined <a href="/wiki/Slipway" title="Slipway">slipway</a>, usually <a href="/wiki/Stern" title="Stern">stern</a> first. With the side launch, the ship enters the water broadside. This method came into use in the 19th century on inland waters, rivers, and lakes, and was more widely adopted during World War II. The third method is <a href="/wiki/Float-out" title="Float-out">float-out</a>, used for ships that are built in basins or <a href="/wiki/Dry_dock" title="Dry dock">dry docks</a> and then floated by admitting water into the dock.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>If launched in a restrictive waterway, drag chains are used to slow the ship speed to prevent it striking the opposite bank.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Stern-first">Stern-first</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Stern-first"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:USS_Johnston_(DD-557)_sliding_down_the_building_ways_at_the_Seattle-Tacoma_Shipbuilding_Corporation_shipyard,_Seattle,_Washington,_25_March_1943_-_Original.tif" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/USS_Johnston_%28DD-557%29_sliding_down_the_building_ways_at_the_Seattle-Tacoma_Shipbuilding_Corporation_shipyard%2C_Seattle%2C_Washington%2C_25_March_1943_-_Original.tif/lossy-page1-220px-USS_Johnston_%28DD-557%29_sliding_down_the_building_ways_at_the_Seattle-Tacoma_Shipbuilding_Corporation_shipyard%2C_Seattle%2C_Washington%2C_25_March_1943_-_Original.tif.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="177" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/USS_Johnston_%28DD-557%29_sliding_down_the_building_ways_at_the_Seattle-Tacoma_Shipbuilding_Corporation_shipyard%2C_Seattle%2C_Washington%2C_25_March_1943_-_Original.tif/lossy-page1-330px-USS_Johnston_%28DD-557%29_sliding_down_the_building_ways_at_the_Seattle-Tacoma_Shipbuilding_Corporation_shipyard%2C_Seattle%2C_Washington%2C_25_March_1943_-_Original.tif.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/USS_Johnston_%28DD-557%29_sliding_down_the_building_ways_at_the_Seattle-Tacoma_Shipbuilding_Corporation_shipyard%2C_Seattle%2C_Washington%2C_25_March_1943_-_Original.tif/lossy-page1-440px-USS_Johnston_%28DD-557%29_sliding_down_the_building_ways_at_the_Seattle-Tacoma_Shipbuilding_Corporation_shipyard%2C_Seattle%2C_Washington%2C_25_March_1943_-_Original.tif.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5730" data-file-height="4604" /></a><figcaption>Destroyer <a href="/wiki/USS_Johnston_(DD-557)" title="USS Johnston (DD-557)">USS <i>Johnston</i> (DD-557)</a> slipping into the water stern-first during her launch from the <a href="/wiki/Seattle-Tacoma_Shipbuilding_Corporation" title="Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation">Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation</a> shipyard on 25 March 1943</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Arizona_launch_party.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Arizona_launch_party.jpg/220px-Arizona_launch_party.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="156" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Arizona_launch_party.jpg/330px-Arizona_launch_party.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Arizona_launch_party.jpg/440px-Arizona_launch_party.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5252" data-file-height="3734" /></a><figcaption>Stern-first launch of the battleship <a href="/wiki/USS_Arizona" title="USS Arizona">USS <i>Arizona</i> (BB-39)</a> in 1915 at the <a href="/wiki/Brooklyn_Navy_Yard" title="Brooklyn Navy Yard">Brooklyn Navy Yard</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Normally, <a href="/wiki/Slipway" title="Slipway">ways</a> are arranged perpendicular to the shore line (or as nearly so as the water and maximum length of vessel allows) and the ship is built with its <a href="/wiki/Stern" title="Stern">stern</a> facing the water. Where the launch takes place into a narrow river, the building slips may be at a shallow angle rather than perpendicular, even though this requires a longer slipway when launching.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>i<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Modern slipways take the form of a reinforced concrete mat of sufficient strength to support the vessel, with two "barricades" that extend well below the water level taking into account <a href="/wiki/Tide" title="Tide">tidal</a> variations. The barricades support the two launch ways. The vessel is built upon temporary cribbing that is arranged to give access to the hull's outer bottom and to allow the launchways to be erected under the complete hull. When it is time to prepare for launching, a pair of standing ways is erected under the hull and out onto the barricades. The surface of the ways is greased. (<a href="/wiki/Tallow" title="Tallow">Tallow</a> and <a href="/wiki/Whale_oil" title="Whale oil">whale oil</a> were used as grease in sailing ship days.)<sup id="cite_ref-statestreet_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-statestreet-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A pair of sliding ways is placed on top, under the hull, and a launch cradle with bow and stern poppets is erected on these sliding ways. The weight of the hull is then transferred from the build cribbing onto the launch cradle. Provision is made to hold the vessel in place and then release it at the appropriate moment in the launching ceremony; common mechanisms include weak links designed to be cut at a signal and mechanical triggers controlled by a switch from the ceremonial platform. </p><p>On launching, the vessel slides backwards down the slipway on the ways until it floats by itself.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Sideways">Sideways</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Sideways"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Launch_of_USS_St._Louis_at_Marinette_Marine,_Wisconsin_(USA),_on_15_December_2018_(181215-N-N0101-198).JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Launch_of_USS_St._Louis_at_Marinette_Marine%2C_Wisconsin_%28USA%29%2C_on_15_December_2018_%28181215-N-N0101-198%29.JPG/220px-Launch_of_USS_St._Louis_at_Marinette_Marine%2C_Wisconsin_%28USA%29%2C_on_15_December_2018_%28181215-N-N0101-198%29.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Launch_of_USS_St._Louis_at_Marinette_Marine%2C_Wisconsin_%28USA%29%2C_on_15_December_2018_%28181215-N-N0101-198%29.JPG/330px-Launch_of_USS_St._Louis_at_Marinette_Marine%2C_Wisconsin_%28USA%29%2C_on_15_December_2018_%28181215-N-N0101-198%29.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Launch_of_USS_St._Louis_at_Marinette_Marine%2C_Wisconsin_%28USA%29%2C_on_15_December_2018_%28181215-N-N0101-198%29.JPG/440px-Launch_of_USS_St._Louis_at_Marinette_Marine%2C_Wisconsin_%28USA%29%2C_on_15_December_2018_%28181215-N-N0101-198%29.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2325" data-file-height="1550" /></a><figcaption>Sideways launch of littoral combat ship <a href="/wiki/USS_St._Louis_(LCS-19)" title="USS St. Louis (LCS-19)">USS <i>St. Louis</i> (LCS-19)</a> in 2018</figcaption></figure> <p>Some slipways are built so that the vessel is side-on to the water and is launched sideways. This is done where the limitations of the water channel would not allow lengthwise launching, but occupies a much greater length of shore. <i><a href="/wiki/SS_Great_Eastern" title="SS Great Eastern">The Great Eastern</a></i> designed by <a href="/wiki/Isambard_Kingdom_Brunel" title="Isambard Kingdom Brunel">Brunel</a> was built this way, as were many <a href="/wiki/Landing_craft" title="Landing craft">landing craft</a> during <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>. This method requires many more sets of ways to support the weight of the ship. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Air-bag">Air-bag</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Air-bag"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Airbag_launching" title="Airbag launching">Airbag launching</a></div> <p>Sometimes ships are launched using a series of inflated tubes underneath the hull, which deflate to cause a downward slope into the water. This procedure has the advantages of requiring less permanent infrastructure, risk, and cost. The airbags provide support to the hull of the ship and aid its launching motion into the water, thus this method is arguably safer than other options such as sideways launching.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These airbags are usually cylindrical in shape with hemispherical heads at both ends. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Traditions">Traditions</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Traditions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ancient">Ancient</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Ancient"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Friedland_Van_Bree-1810.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Friedland_Van_Bree-1810.jpg/220px-Friedland_Van_Bree-1810.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="143" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Friedland_Van_Bree-1810.jpg/330px-Friedland_Van_Bree-1810.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Friedland_Van_Bree-1810.jpg/440px-Friedland_Van_Bree-1810.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="521" /></a><figcaption>Launch of <a href="/wiki/French_ship_Friedland_(1810)" title="French ship Friedland (1810)">the French ship <i>Friedland</i></a> on 2 May 1810, sliding stern first</figcaption></figure> <p>A <a href="/wiki/Babylon" title="Babylon">Babylonian</a> narrative dating from the 3rd millennium BC describes the completion of a ship:<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <blockquote> <p>Openings to the water I stopped;<br /> I searched for cracks and the wanting parts I fixed:<br /> Three <i>sari</i> of bitumen I poured over the outside;<br /> To the gods I caused oxen to be sacrificed.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> </blockquote> <p>It is believed that ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans called on their gods to protect seamen.<sup id="cite_ref-frame01_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-frame01-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Favor was evoked from the monarch of the seas—<a href="/wiki/Poseidon" title="Poseidon">Poseidon</a> in <a href="/wiki/Greek_mythology" title="Greek mythology">Greek mythology</a>, <a href="/wiki/Neptune_(mythology)" title="Neptune (mythology)">Neptune</a> in <a href="/wiki/Roman_mythology" title="Roman mythology">Roman mythology</a>. Ship launching participants in ancient Greece wreathed their heads with olive branches, drank wine to honor the gods, and poured water on the new vessel as a symbol of blessing. Shrines were carried on board Greek and Roman ships, and this practice extended into the Middle Ages. The shrine was usually placed at the <a href="/wiki/Quarterdeck" title="Quarterdeck">quarterdeck</a>, an area which continues to have special ceremonial significance.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Different peoples and cultures shaped the religious ceremonies surrounding a ship launching. <a href="/wiki/Jew" class="mw-redirect" title="Jew">Jews</a> and <a href="/wiki/Christianity" title="Christianity">Christians</a> customarily used wine and water as they called upon God to safeguard them at sea. Intercession of the saints and the blessing of the church were asked by Christians. Ship launchings in the <a href="/wiki/Ottoman_Empire" title="Ottoman Empire">Ottoman Empire</a> were accompanied by prayers to <a href="/wiki/Allah" title="Allah">Allah</a>, the sacrifice of sheep, and appropriate feasting.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Chaplain Henry Teonge of Britain's <a href="/wiki/Royal_Navy" title="Royal Navy">Royal Navy</a> left an interesting account of a warship launch, a "briganteen of 23 oars," by the <a href="/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller" title="Knights Hospitaller">Knights of Malta</a> in 1675:<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <blockquote> <p>Two fryers and an attendant went into the vessel, and kneeling down prayed halfe an houre, and layd their hands on every mast, and other places of the vessel, and sprinkled her all over with holy water. Then they came out and hoysted a pendent to signify she was a man of war; then at once thrust her into the water.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> </blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Early_Modern_Age">Early Modern Age</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Early Modern Age"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Vue_du_Vaisseau_du_Roy_le_duc_de_Bourgogne_btv1b8409221q.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Vue_du_Vaisseau_du_Roy_le_duc_de_Bourgogne_btv1b8409221q.jpg/220px-Vue_du_Vaisseau_du_Roy_le_duc_de_Bourgogne_btv1b8409221q.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="168" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Vue_du_Vaisseau_du_Roy_le_duc_de_Bourgogne_btv1b8409221q.jpg/330px-Vue_du_Vaisseau_du_Roy_le_duc_de_Bourgogne_btv1b8409221q.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Vue_du_Vaisseau_du_Roy_le_duc_de_Bourgogne_btv1b8409221q.jpg/440px-Vue_du_Vaisseau_du_Roy_le_duc_de_Bourgogne_btv1b8409221q.jpg 2x" data-file-width="7880" data-file-height="6016" /></a><figcaption>The side launch of French ship <a href="/wiki/French_ship_Duc_de_Bourgogne_(1751)" title="French ship Duc de Bourgogne (1751)"><i>Duc de Bourgogne</i></a> at <a href="/wiki/Rochefort,_Charente-Maritime" title="Rochefort, Charente-Maritime">Rochefort</a> on 20 October 1751.</figcaption></figure> <p>The liturgical aspects of ship christenings, or baptisms, continued in <a href="/wiki/Catholic_Church" title="Catholic Church">Catholic</a> countries, while the <a href="/wiki/Protestant_Reformation" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestant Reformation">Reformation</a> seems to have put a stop to them for a time in <a href="/wiki/Protestantism" title="Protestantism">Protestant</a> Europe. By the 17th century, for example, English launchings were secular affairs. The christening party for the launch of the 64-gun ship of the line <a href="/wiki/English_ship_Prince_Royal_(1610)" title="English ship Prince Royal (1610)"><i>Prince Royal</i></a> in 1610 included the <a href="/wiki/Henry_Frederick,_Prince_of_Wales" title="Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales">Prince of Wales</a> and famed naval constructor <a href="/wiki/Phineas_Pett" title="Phineas Pett">Phineas Pett</a>, who was master shipwright at the Woolwich yard. Pett described the proceedings:<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"> <p>The noble Prince… accompanied with the Lord Admiral and the great lords, were on the <a href="/wiki/Poop_deck" title="Poop deck">poop</a>, where the standing great gilt cup was ready filled with wine to name the ship SO soon as she had been afloat, according to ancient custom and ceremony performed at such times, and heaving the standing cup overboard. His Highness then standing upon the poop with a selected company only, besides the trumpeters, with a great deal of expression of princely joy, and with the ceremony of drinking in the standing cup, threw all the wine forwards towards the half-deck, and solemnly calling her by name of the Prince Royal, the trumpets sounding the while, with many gracious words to me, gave the standing cup into my hands.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> </blockquote> <p>The "standing cup" was a large cup fashioned of precious metal. When the ship began to slide down the ways, the presiding official took a ceremonial sip of wine from the cup, and poured the rest on the deck or over the bow. Usually the cup was thrown overboard and belonged to the lucky retriever. As navies grew larger and launchings more frequent, economy dictated that the costly cup be caught in a net for reuse at other launchings. Late in 17th century Britain, the standing-cup ceremony was replaced by the practice of breaking a bottle across the bow.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="By_country">By country</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: By country"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:DF.CLR-8-29_The_Launch_of_the_Minas_Geraes.tif" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/DF.CLR-8-29_The_Launch_of_the_Minas_Geraes.tif/lossy-page1-220px-DF.CLR-8-29_The_Launch_of_the_Minas_Geraes.tif.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="172" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/DF.CLR-8-29_The_Launch_of_the_Minas_Geraes.tif/lossy-page1-330px-DF.CLR-8-29_The_Launch_of_the_Minas_Geraes.tif.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/DF.CLR-8-29_The_Launch_of_the_Minas_Geraes.tif/lossy-page1-440px-DF.CLR-8-29_The_Launch_of_the_Minas_Geraes.tif.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1430" data-file-height="1118" /></a><figcaption>The launch of Brazilian Navy battleship <a href="/wiki/Brazilian_battleship_Minas_Geraes" title="Brazilian battleship Minas Geraes"><i>Minas Geraes</i></a> at Elswick on 10 September 1908</figcaption></figure> <p>Launching could be said to mark the birth of a vessel; and people throughout history have performed launching ceremonies, in part to appeal for good fortune and the safety of each new vessel.<sup id="cite_ref-Au_axe_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Au_axe-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Canada">Canada</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Canada"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In Canada, <a href="/wiki/Aboriginal_peoples_in_Canada" class="mw-redirect" title="Aboriginal peoples in Canada">Aboriginal peoples</a> will perform ceremonies at the launching of vessels along with other methods of launching. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="France">France</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: France"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>French ship launchings and christenings in the 18th and early 19th centuries were accompanied by unique rites closely resembling marriage and baptismal ceremonies. A godfather for the new ship presented a godmother with a bouquet of flowers as both said the ship's name. No bottle was broken, but a priest pronounced the vessel's name and blessed it with holy water.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="India">India</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: India"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>, ships have historically been launched with a <a href="/wiki/Puja_(Hinduism)" title="Puja (Hinduism)">Puja</a> ceremony that dedicates the ship to a Hindu god or goddess, and seeks blessings for her and her sailors. Historically, <a href="/wiki/Hindu" class="mw-redirect" title="Hindu">Hindu</a> priests would perform the <i>puja</i> ceremony at launch. In the 20th century, ships were launched with a lady breaking a <a href="/wiki/Coconut" title="Coconut">coconut</a> on the bow of the vessel, which is sometimes followed by a small <a href="/wiki/Puja_(Hinduism)" title="Puja (Hinduism)">Puja</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-ei-sahyadri_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ei-sahyadri-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Japan">Japan</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Japan"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Japanese ship launchings incorporate silver axes which are thought to bring good luck and scare away evil. Japanese shipbuilders traditionally order the crafting of a special axe for each new vessel; and after the launching ceremony, they present the axe to the vessel's owner as a commemorative gift.<sup id="cite_ref-Au_axe_9-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Au_axe-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The axe is used to cut the rope which tethers the ship to the place where she was built.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="United_Kingdom">United Kingdom</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: United Kingdom"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Eidsvold_launch_card_June_14th_1900.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Eidsvold_launch_card_June_14th_1900.jpg/170px-Eidsvold_launch_card_June_14th_1900.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="232" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Eidsvold_launch_card_June_14th_1900.jpg/255px-Eidsvold_launch_card_June_14th_1900.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Eidsvold_launch_card_June_14th_1900.jpg/340px-Eidsvold_launch_card_June_14th_1900.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1232" data-file-height="1680" /></a><figcaption><i>Eidsvold</i> launch card in <a href="/wiki/Tyne_%26_Wear_Archives_%26_Museums" title="Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums">Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums</a> collection item 450/1, launched at <a href="/wiki/Elswick,_Tyne_and_Wear" class="mw-redirect" title="Elswick, Tyne and Wear">Elswick</a> 14 June 1900 for the Royal Norwegian Navy.</figcaption></figure> <p><a href="/wiki/Ship_sponsor" title="Ship sponsor">Sponsors</a> of British warships were customarily members of the royal family, senior naval officers, or Admiralty officials. A few civilians were invited to sponsor Royal Navy ships during the nineteenth century, and women became sponsors for the first time. In 1875, a religious element was returned to naval christenings by <a href="/wiki/Alexandra_of_Denmark" title="Alexandra of Denmark">Princess Alexandra</a>, wife of the <a href="/wiki/Edward_VII" title="Edward VII">Prince of Wales</a>, when she introduced an Anglican choral service in the launching ceremony for battleship <a href="/wiki/HMS_Alexandra" title="HMS Alexandra"><i>Alexandra</i></a>. The usage continues with the singing of <a href="/wiki/Psalm_107" title="Psalm 107">Psalm 107</a> with its special meaning to mariners:<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <blockquote> <p>They that go down to the sea in ships;<br /> That do business in great waters;<br /> These see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> </blockquote> <p>In 1969, <a href="/wiki/Elizabeth_II" title="Elizabeth II">Queen Elizabeth II</a> named the ocean liner <i><a href="/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_2" title="Queen Elizabeth 2">Queen Elizabeth 2</a></i> after herself, instead of the older liner <a href="/wiki/RMS_Queen_Elizabeth" title="RMS Queen Elizabeth">RMS <i>Queen Elizabeth</i></a>, by saying, "I name this ship <i>Queen Elizabeth the Second</i>. May God bless her and all who sail in her." On 4 July 2014, the Queen named the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier <a href="/wiki/HMS_Queen_Elizabeth_(R08)" title="HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08)">HMS <i>Queen Elizabeth</i></a> with a bottle of <a href="/wiki/Single_malt_Scotch_whisky" class="mw-redirect" title="Single malt Scotch whisky">single malt Scotch whisky</a> from the Bowmore distillery on the island of <a href="/wiki/Islay" title="Islay">Islay</a> instead of champagne because the ship had been built and launched in Scotland. The <a href="/wiki/Camilla,_Duchess_of_Cornwall" class="mw-redirect" title="Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall">Duchess of Rothesay</a> similarly launched <a href="/wiki/HMS_Prince_of_Wales_(R09)" title="HMS Prince of Wales (R09)">HMS <i>Prince of Wales</i></a> by pulling a lever which smashed a bottle of single malt Scotch whisky at the side of the ship. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><span><video id="mwe_player_1" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm/220px--240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm.jpg" controls="" preload="none" data-mw-tmh="" class="mw-file-element" width="220" height="124" data-durationhint="105" data-mwtitle="240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons" resource="/wiki/File:240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/81/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm.480p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="480p.vp9.webm" data-width="854" data-height="480" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/81/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm.720p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="720p.vp9.webm" data-width="1280" data-height="720" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/81/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm.1080p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="1080p.vp9.webm" data-width="1920" data-height="1080" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-width="1920" data-height="1080" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/81/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm.144p.mjpeg.mov" type="video/quicktime" data-transcodekey="144p.mjpeg.mov" data-width="256" data-height="144" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/81/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="426" data-height="240" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/81/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm.360p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="360p.vp9.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/81/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm/240409h_MV_Glen_Rosa_launch.webm.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /></video></span><figcaption>CalMac ferry <i>Glen Rosa</i> launching at <a href="/wiki/Ferguson_Marine" title="Ferguson Marine">Ferguson Marine</a> shipyard on 9 April 2024.<sup id="cite_ref-BBC_2024O4O8_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BBC_2024O4O8-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <p>At the 2024 launching of <a href="/wiki/Caledonian_MacBrayne" title="Caledonian MacBrayne">CalMac</a> ferry <a href="/wiki/MV_Glen_Rosa" title="MV Glen Rosa"><i>Glen Rosa</i></a>, newly-qualified welder Beth Atkinson named the ship and pulled a lever to similarly smash a bottle, of single malt from the Ardgowan distillery at nearby <a href="/wiki/Inverkip" title="Inverkip">Inverkip</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-BBC_2024O4O8_12-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BBC_2024O4O8-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Shipyard ephemera is a rich source of detail concerning a launch and this was often material produced for the audience of the day and then thrown away. <a href="/wiki/Tyne_%26_Wear_Archives_%26_Museums" title="Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums">Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums</a> has many of these items from Tyne and Wear shipyards. A number can be seen in <a class="external text" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles/TWAMWIR">Commons</a>. The 1900 piece for <a href="/wiki/HNoMS_Eidsvold" title="HNoMS Eidsvold"><i>Eidsvold</i></a> reproduced in this article lists a woman performing the launch. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="United_States">United States</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: United States"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Launching_of_the_John_W._Boardman_cargo_ship_-_DPLA_-_5670c1a5452f4e14f2f7a318b18aa656.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Launching_of_the_John_W._Boardman_cargo_ship_-_DPLA_-_5670c1a5452f4e14f2f7a318b18aa656.jpg/220px-Launching_of_the_John_W._Boardman_cargo_ship_-_DPLA_-_5670c1a5452f4e14f2f7a318b18aa656.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="143" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Launching_of_the_John_W._Boardman_cargo_ship_-_DPLA_-_5670c1a5452f4e14f2f7a318b18aa656.jpg/330px-Launching_of_the_John_W._Boardman_cargo_ship_-_DPLA_-_5670c1a5452f4e14f2f7a318b18aa656.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Launching_of_the_John_W._Boardman_cargo_ship_-_DPLA_-_5670c1a5452f4e14f2f7a318b18aa656.jpg/440px-Launching_of_the_John_W._Boardman_cargo_ship_-_DPLA_-_5670c1a5452f4e14f2f7a318b18aa656.jpg 2x" data-file-width="767" data-file-height="499" /></a><figcaption>Launching of the <i>John W. Boardman</i> cargo ship from the Toledo Shipyard, Toledo, Ohio, 1916</figcaption></figure> <p>Ceremonial practices for christening and launching ships in the <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a> have their roots in Europe. Descriptions are not plentiful for launching <a href="/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War" title="American Revolutionary War">American Revolutionary War</a> naval vessels, but a local newspaper detailed the launch of Continental frigate <a href="/wiki/USS_Raleigh_(1776)" title="USS Raleigh (1776)"><i>Raleigh</i></a> at <a href="/wiki/Portsmouth,_New_Hampshire" title="Portsmouth, New Hampshire">Portsmouth, New Hampshire</a>, in May 1776:<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712"><blockquote class="templatequote"> <p>On Tuesday the 21st inst. the Continental Frigate of thirty-two guns, built at this place... was Launched amidst the acclamation of many thousand spectators. She is esteemed by all those who are judges that have seen her, to be one of the compleatest ships ever built in America. The unwearied diligence and care of the three Master-Builders... and the good order and industry of the Carpenters, deserve particular notice; scarcely a single instance of a person's being in liquor, or any difference among the men in the yard during the time of her building, every man with pleasure exerting himself to the utmost: and altho' the greatest care was taken that only the best of timber was used, and the work perform'd in a most masterly manner, the whole time from her raising to the day she launched did not exceed sixty working days, and what afforded a most pleasing view (which was manifest in the countenances of the Spectators) this noble fabrick was completely to her anchors in the main channel, in less than six minutes from the time she run, without the least hurt; and what is truly remarkable, not a single person met with the least accident in launching, tho' near five hundred men were employed in and about her when run off.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> </blockquote> <p>It was customary for the builders to celebrate a ship launching. <a href="/wiki/Rhode_Island" title="Rhode Island">Rhode Island</a> authorities were charged with overseeing construction of frigates <a href="/wiki/USS_Warren_(1776)" title="USS Warren (1776)"><i>Warren</i></a> and <a href="/wiki/USS_Providence_(1776_frigate)" title="USS Providence (1776 frigate)"><i>Providence</i></a>. They voted the sum of fifty dollars (equivalent to $1,300 in 2023) to the master builder of each yard "to be expended in providing an entertainment for the carpenters that worked on the ships." Five pounds (equivalent to $100 in 2023) was spent for lime juice for the launching festivities of frigate <a href="/wiki/USS_Delaware_(1776)" title="USS Delaware (1776)"><i>Delaware</i></a> at <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania" class="mw-redirect" title="Philadelphia, Pennsylvania">Philadelphia, Pennsylvania</a>, suggesting that the "entertainment" included a potent punch with lime juice as an ingredient.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>No mention has come to light of christening a Continental Navy ship during the American Revolution. The first ships of the Continental Navy were <a href="/wiki/USS_Alfred" title="USS Alfred"><i>Alfred</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/USS_Cabot_(1775)" title="USS Cabot (1775)"><i>Cabot</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/Andrew_Doria_(1775_brig)" title="Andrew Doria (1775 brig)"><i>Andrew Doria</i></a>, and <a href="/wiki/USS_Columbus_(1774)" title="USS Columbus (1774)"><i>Columbus</i></a>. These were former merchantmen, and their names were assigned during conversion and outfitting. Later, <a href="/wiki/United_States_Congress" title="United States Congress">Congress</a> authorized the construction of thirteen frigates, and no names were assigned until after four had launched.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The first description that we have of an American warship christening is that of <a href="/wiki/USS_Constitution" title="USS Constitution"><i>Constitution</i></a> at Boston, October 21, 1797, famous as "Old Ironsides." Her sponsor was Captain James Sever, USN, who stood on the weather deck at the bow. "At fifteen minutes after twelve she commenced a movement into the water with such steadiness, majesty and exactness as to fill every heart with sensations of joy and delight." As <i>Constitution</i> ran out, Captain Sever broke a bottle of fine old <a href="/wiki/Madeira_wine" title="Madeira wine">Madeira</a> over the heel of the <a href="/wiki/Bowsprit" title="Bowsprit">bowsprit</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Frigate <a href="/wiki/USS_President_(1800)" title="USS President (1800)"><i>President</i></a> had an interesting launching on April 10, 1800, at New York:<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712"><blockquote class="templatequote"> <p>Was launched yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, in the presence of perhaps as great a concourse of people as ever assembled in this city on any occasion. At nine, captain Ten-Eyck's company of artillery..., accompanied by the uniform volunteer companies of the sixth regiment and the corps of riflemen, marched in procession... and took their station alongside the frigate. Everything being prepared, and the most profound silence prevailing,... At a given signal she glided into the waters, a sublime spectacle of gracefulnes and grandeur. Immediately on touching the water federal salutes were fired from the sloop of war <i><a href="/wiki/USS_Portsmouth_(1798)" title="USS Portsmouth (1798)">Portsmouth</a></i>, the revenue cutter <i>Jay</i> and the <i>Aspasia</i>, Indiaman. These were returned by the uniform companies on shore, who fired a <a href="/wiki/Feu_de_joie" title="Feu de joie">feu-de-joye</a>, and marched off the ground to the battery... and were dismissed.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> </blockquote> <p>As the 19th century progressed, American ship launchings continued to be festive occasions, but with no set ritual except that the sponsor(s) used some "christening fluid" as the ship received her name.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Sloop of war <a href="/wiki/USS_Concord_(1828)" title="USS Concord (1828)"><i>Concord</i></a> was launched in 1828 and was "christened by a young lady of Portsmouth." This is the first known instance of a woman sponsoring a United States Navy vessel. The contemporaneous account does not name her.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The first <i>identified</i> woman sponsor was Lavinia Fanning Watson, daughter of a prominent Philadelphian. She broke a bottle of wine and water over the bow of <a href="/wiki/Sloop-of-war" title="Sloop-of-war">sloop-of-war</a> <a href="/wiki/USS_Germantown_(1846)" title="USS Germantown (1846)"><i>Germantown</i></a> at <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Naval_Shipyard" title="Philadelphia Naval Shipyard">Philadelphia Navy Yard</a> on August 22, 1846.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Sponsor_of_USS_Wichita_(LCS-13)_smashes_champagne_bottle_over_bow_of_ship_during_christening_ceremony_US_Navy_160917-N-N0101-100.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Sponsor_of_USS_Wichita_%28LCS-13%29_smashes_champagne_bottle_over_bow_of_ship_during_christening_ceremony_US_Navy_160917-N-N0101-100.jpg/220px-Sponsor_of_USS_Wichita_%28LCS-13%29_smashes_champagne_bottle_over_bow_of_ship_during_christening_ceremony_US_Navy_160917-N-N0101-100.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Sponsor_of_USS_Wichita_%28LCS-13%29_smashes_champagne_bottle_over_bow_of_ship_during_christening_ceremony_US_Navy_160917-N-N0101-100.jpg/330px-Sponsor_of_USS_Wichita_%28LCS-13%29_smashes_champagne_bottle_over_bow_of_ship_during_christening_ceremony_US_Navy_160917-N-N0101-100.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Sponsor_of_USS_Wichita_%28LCS-13%29_smashes_champagne_bottle_over_bow_of_ship_during_christening_ceremony_US_Navy_160917-N-N0101-100.jpg/440px-Sponsor_of_USS_Wichita_%28LCS-13%29_smashes_champagne_bottle_over_bow_of_ship_during_christening_ceremony_US_Navy_160917-N-N0101-100.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2700" data-file-height="1800" /></a><figcaption>Kate Lehrer, sponsor of the future USS <i>Wichita</i> (LCS 13), breaks a bottle of champagne across LCS-13's bow during the ship's christening ceremony.</figcaption></figure> <p>Women as sponsors became increasingly the rule, but not universally so. As sloop-of-war <a href="/wiki/USS_Plymouth_(1844)" title="USS Plymouth (1844)"><i>Plymouth</i></a> "glided along the inclined plane" in 1846, "two young sailors, one stationed at each side of her head, anointed her with bottles, and named her as she left her cradle for the deep." As late as 1898, the torpedo boat <a href="/wiki/USS_MacKenzie_(TB-17)" title="USS MacKenzie (TB-17)"><i>MacKenzie</i></a> was christened by the son of the builder.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Wine is the traditional christening fluid, although numerous other liquids have been used. <a href="/wiki/USS_Princeton_(1843)" title="USS Princeton (1843)"><i>Princeton</i></a> and <a href="/wiki/USS_Raritan_(1843)" title="USS Raritan (1843)"><i>Raritan</i></a> were sent on their way in 1843 with <a href="/wiki/Whisky" title="Whisky">whisky</a>. Seven years later, "a bottle of best <a href="/wiki/Brandy" title="Brandy">brandy</a> was broken over the bow of steam sloop <a href="/wiki/USS_San_Jacinto_(1850)" title="USS San Jacinto (1850)"><i>San Jacinto</i></a>." Steam frigate <a href="/wiki/USS_Merrimack_(1855)" title="USS Merrimack (1855)"><i>Merrimack</i></a> earned her place in naval history as <a href="/wiki/Confederate_States_of_America" title="Confederate States of America">Confederate States of America</a> ironclad <a href="/wiki/CSS_Virginia" title="CSS Virginia"><i>Virginia</i></a>, and she was baptized with water from the <a href="/wiki/Merrimack_River" title="Merrimack River">Merrimack River</a>. Admiral <a href="/wiki/David_Farragut" title="David Farragut">David Farragut</a>'s famous <a href="/wiki/American_Civil_War" title="American Civil War">American Civil War</a> <a href="/wiki/Flagship" title="Flagship">flagship</a> steam sloop <a href="/wiki/USS_Hartford_(1858)" title="USS Hartford (1858)"><i>Hartford</i></a> was christened by three sponsors; two young ladies broke bottles of <a href="/wiki/Connecticut_River" title="Connecticut River">Connecticut River</a> water and <a href="/wiki/Hartford,_Connecticut" title="Hartford, Connecticut">Hartford, Connecticut</a> spring water, while a naval lieutenant completed the ceremony with a bottle of sea water.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><a href="/wiki/Champagne_(wine)" class="mw-redirect" title="Champagne (wine)">Champagne</a> came into popular use as a christening fluid as the 19th century closed. A granddaughter of <a href="/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_the_Navy" title="United States Secretary of the Navy">Secretary of the Navy</a> <a href="/wiki/Benjamin_F._Tracy" title="Benjamin F. Tracy">Benjamin F. Tracy</a> wet the bow of <a href="/wiki/USS_Maine_(1889)" title="USS Maine (1889)"><i>Maine</i></a>, the Navy's first steel battleship, with champagne at the <a href="/wiki/Brooklyn_Navy_Yard" title="Brooklyn Navy Yard">New York Navy Yard</a> on November 18, 1890. The effects of national <a href="/wiki/Prohibition" title="Prohibition">prohibition</a> on alcoholic beverages were reflected to some extent in ship christenings. <a href="/wiki/Cruiser" title="Cruiser">Cruisers</a> <a href="/wiki/USS_Pensacola_(CA-24)" title="USS Pensacola (CA-24)"><i>Pensacola</i></a> and <a href="/wiki/USS_Houston_(CA-30)" title="USS Houston (CA-30)"><i>Houston</i></a>, for example, were christened with water; the <a href="/wiki/Submarine" title="Submarine">submarine</a> <a href="/wiki/USS_Nautilus_(SS-168)" title="USS Nautilus (SS-168)"><i>V-6</i></a> with cider. However, battleship <a href="/wiki/USS_California_(BB-44)" title="USS California (BB-44)"><i>California</i></a> appropriately received her name with California wine in 1919. Champagne returned in 1922, but only for the launch of light cruiser <a href="/wiki/USS_Trenton_(CL-11)" title="USS Trenton (CL-11)"><i>Trenton</i></a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:NRCHRISTEN.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/NRCHRISTEN.jpg/220px-NRCHRISTEN.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="180" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/NRCHRISTEN.jpg/330px-NRCHRISTEN.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/NRCHRISTEN.jpg/440px-NRCHRISTEN.jpg 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="420" /></a><figcaption>First Lady <a href="/wiki/Nancy_Reagan" title="Nancy Reagan">Nancy Reagan</a> christens the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier <a href="/wiki/USS_Ronald_Reagan" title="USS Ronald Reagan">USS <i>Ronald Reagan</i> (CVN-76)</a> on 4 March 2001</figcaption></figure> <p>Rigid naval <a href="/wiki/Airship" title="Airship">airships</a> <a href="/wiki/USS_Los_Angeles_(ZR-3)" title="USS Los Angeles (ZR-3)"><i>Los Angeles</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/USS_Shenandoah_(ZR-1)" title="USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)"><i>Shenandoah</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/USS_Akron" title="USS Akron"><i>Akron</i></a>, and <a href="/wiki/USS_Macon_(ZRS-5)" title="USS Macon (ZRS-5)"><i>Macon</i></a> were built during the 1920s and early 1930s, carried on the <a href="/wiki/Naval_Vessel_Register" title="Naval Vessel Register">Naval Vessel Register</a>, and each was formally <a href="/wiki/Ship_commissioning" title="Ship commissioning">commissioned</a>. The earliest <a href="/wiki/First_Lady_of_the_United_States" title="First Lady of the United States">First Lady of the United States</a> to act as sponsor was <a href="/wiki/Grace_Coolidge" title="Grace Coolidge">Grace Coolidge</a> who christened the airship <i>Los Angeles</i>. <a href="/wiki/Lou_Henry_Hoover" title="Lou Henry Hoover">Lou Henry Hoover</a> christened <i>Akron</i> in 1931, but the customary bottle was not used. Instead, the First Lady pulled a cord which opened a hatch in the airship's towering nose to release a flock of pigeons.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Thousands of ships of every description came off the ways during <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>, the concerted effort of a mobilized American industry. The historic christening and launching ceremonies continued, but travel restrictions, other wartime considerations, and sheer numbers dictated that such occasions be less elaborate than those in the years before the war.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQ108_2-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:USS_Pivot_(AM-276)_is_launched_at_the_Gulf_Shipbuilding_Corporation,_Chickasaw,_Alabama_(USA),_on_11_November_1943.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/USS_Pivot_%28AM-276%29_is_launched_at_the_Gulf_Shipbuilding_Corporation%2C_Chickasaw%2C_Alabama_%28USA%29%2C_on_11_November_1943.jpg/220px-USS_Pivot_%28AM-276%29_is_launched_at_the_Gulf_Shipbuilding_Corporation%2C_Chickasaw%2C_Alabama_%28USA%29%2C_on_11_November_1943.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="176" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/USS_Pivot_%28AM-276%29_is_launched_at_the_Gulf_Shipbuilding_Corporation%2C_Chickasaw%2C_Alabama_%28USA%29%2C_on_11_November_1943.jpg/330px-USS_Pivot_%28AM-276%29_is_launched_at_the_Gulf_Shipbuilding_Corporation%2C_Chickasaw%2C_Alabama_%28USA%29%2C_on_11_November_1943.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/USS_Pivot_%28AM-276%29_is_launched_at_the_Gulf_Shipbuilding_Corporation%2C_Chickasaw%2C_Alabama_%28USA%29%2C_on_11_November_1943.jpg/440px-USS_Pivot_%28AM-276%29_is_launched_at_the_Gulf_Shipbuilding_Corporation%2C_Chickasaw%2C_Alabama_%28USA%29%2C_on_11_November_1943.jpg 2x" data-file-width="500" data-file-height="401" /></a><figcaption>Minesweeper <a href="/wiki/USS_Pivot_(AM-276)" title="USS Pivot (AM-276)">USS <i>Pivot</i> (AM-276)</a> launched at the Gulf Shipbuilding Company, <a href="/wiki/Chickasaw,_Alabama" title="Chickasaw, Alabama">Chickasaw, Alabama</a> in 1943.</figcaption></figure> <p>On 15 December 1941, the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Maritime_Commission" title="United States Maritime Commission">United States Maritime Commission</a> announced that all formal launching ceremonies would be discontinued for merchant ships being constructed under its authority, though simple informal ceremonies could continue without reimbursement to builders.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In recent history, all U.S. Navy sponsors have been female. In addition to the ceremonial breaking of a champagne bottle on the bow, the sponsor remains in contact with the ship's crew and is involved in special events such as homecomings.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Incidents">Incidents</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Incidents"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/SS_Daphne_(1883)" title="SS Daphne (1883)">SS <i>Daphne</i></a> sank moments after her launching at a <a href="/wiki/Shipyard" title="Shipyard">shipyard</a> in <a href="/wiki/Govan" title="Govan">Govan</a>, Glasgow, Scotland on 3 July 1883. As <i>Daphne</i> moved into the river, the anchors failed to stop the ship's forward progress. The <a href="/wiki/Starboard" class="mw-redirect" title="Starboard">starboard</a> anchor moved only 6–7 yards (5.5–6.4 m), but the port anchor was dragged 60 yards (55 m). The current of the river caught <i>Daphne</i> and flipped it onto its <a href="/wiki/Port_(nautical)" class="mw-redirect" title="Port (nautical)">port</a> side, sinking it in deep water.<sup id="cite_ref-scotsman_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-scotsman-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> 124 died including many young boys, some of whose relatives were there on shore.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/HMS_Albion_(1898)" title="HMS Albion (1898)">HMS <i>Albion</i></a> launched on 21 June 1898.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="A complete citation is needed. (April 2023)">full citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> <i>Albion</i> created a wave with her entry into the water after the <a href="/wiki/Mary_of_Teck" title="Mary of Teck">Duchess of York</a> christened her. The wave caused a stage to collapse on which 200 people were watching; it slid into a side creek, and 34 people drowned, mostly women and children.<sup id="cite_ref-Burt,_p._159_18-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Burt,_p._159-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="A complete citation is needed. (April 2023)">full citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> This was probably one of the first-ever ship launchings to be filmed.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>In 1907, the Italian ocean liner <a href="/wiki/SS_Principessa_Jolanda_(1907)" title="SS Principessa Jolanda (1907)"><i>Principessa Jolanda</i></a> capsized and sank upon launch.</li> <li>In 2011, the luxury boat SS <i>Jiugang</i> sank at launch in <a href="/wiki/Lanzhou,_China" class="mw-redirect" title="Lanzhou, China">Lanzhou, China</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ship_class#Naval_ship_class_naming_conventions" title="Ship class">Ship class naming conventions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_States_ship_naming_conventions" title="United States ship naming conventions">United States ship naming conventions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Russian_ship_naming_conventions" title="Russian ship naming conventions">Russian ship naming conventions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Japanese_ship-naming_conventions" title="Japanese ship-naming conventions">Japanese ship-naming conventions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hull_classification_symbol" title="Hull classification symbol">Hull classification symbol</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ship_commissioning" title="Ship commissioning">Ship commissioning</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ship_sponsor" title="Ship sponsor">Ship sponsor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_ship_launches" title="Lists of ship launches">Lists of ship launches</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-lower-roman"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The <a href="/wiki/National_Shipyard" title="National Shipyard">National Shipyards</a> at <a href="/wiki/Chepstow" title="Chepstow">Chepstow</a> are an example.</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239543626"><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFRobert_McNamara" class="citation web cs1">Robert McNamara. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160914160532/http://history1800s.about.com/od/transportation/a/shipchampagne.htm">"History of Ship Christenings With Champagne"</a>. <i>About.com Education</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://history1800s.about.com/od/transportation/a/shipchampagne.htm">the original</a> on 14 September 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">23 September</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=About.com+Education&rft.atitle=History+of+Ship+Christenings+With+Champagne&rft.au=Robert+McNamara&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fhistory1800s.about.com%2Fod%2Ftransportation%2Fa%2Fshipchampagne.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FAQ108-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-8"><sup><i><b>i</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-9"><sup><i><b>j</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-10"><sup><i><b>k</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-11"><sup><i><b>l</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-12"><sup><i><b>m</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-13"><sup><i><b>n</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-14"><sup><i><b>o</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-15"><sup><i><b>p</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-16"><sup><i><b>q</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-17"><sup><i><b>r</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-18"><sup><i><b>s</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-19"><sup><i><b>t</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-20"><sup><i><b>u</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-21"><sup><i><b>v</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-22"><sup><i><b>w</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-23"><sup><i><b>x</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-24"><sup><i><b>y</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-25"><sup><i><b>z</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FAQ108_2-26"><sup><i><b>aa</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>(This article includes material from "Ships of the United States Navy: Christening, Launching and Commissioning, Second Edition," which was prepared for and published by the <a href="/wiki/Naval_Historical_Center" class="mw-redirect" title="Naval Historical Center">Naval History Division</a> of the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Navy" title="United States Department of the Navy">Department of the Navy</a>, <a href="/wiki/Washington,_D.C." title="Washington, D.C.">Washington, D.C.</a>, 1975, and therefore is in the public domain as federal government work).</i> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFReilly2001" class="citation web cs1">Reilly, John C. (31 May 2001). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20010611070328/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq108.htm">"Christening, Launching, and Naming of U.S. Navy Ships"</a>. Naval History and Heritage Command. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq108.htm">the original</a> on 11 June 2001<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">5 June</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Christening%2C+Launching%2C+and+Naming+of+U.S.+Navy+Ships&rft.pub=Naval+History+and+Heritage+Command&rft.date=2001-05-31&rft.aulast=Reilly&rft.aufirst=John+C.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.navy.mil%2Ffaqs%2Ffaq108.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Basic Ship Theory Volume 1, Fifth Edition Butterworth-Heinemann; 5 edition | November 21, 2001 | <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0750653965" title="Special:BookSources/0750653965">0750653965</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-statestreet-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-statestreet_5-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWalton_Advertising_and_Printing_Company,_Boston.1913" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/w/index.php?title=State_Street_Corporation_%E2%80%93_State_Street_Trust_Company&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="State Street Corporation – State Street Trust Company (page does not exist)">Walton Advertising and Printing Company, Boston.</a> (1913). <i>Some ships of the clipper ship era, Their builders, owners, and captains</i>. Boston, MA: Printed for the State Street Trust Company. p. 18.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Some+ships+of+the+clipper+ship+era%2C+Their+builders%2C+owners%2C+and+captains&rft.place=Boston%2C+MA&rft.pages=18&rft.pub=Printed+for+the+State+Street+Trust+Company&rft.date=1913&rft.au=Walton+Advertising+and+Printing+Company%2C+Boston.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=pigDAAAAMBAJ&q=Popular+Science+1931+planeHowBiggest&pg=PA36">Ship Was Safely Launched, February 1933, Popular Science</a> slipway and launching of French passenger liner Normandie in 1933 – excellent drawing and illustrations showing basics of process</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://max-groups.com/ship-launching-airbags-best-ship-launching-method/">"Ship Launching Airbags, the best ship launching method?"</a>. <i>Max Groups Marine</i>. 25 October 2016. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230417091651/https://max-groups.com/ship-launching-airbags-best-ship-launching-method/">Archived</a> from the original on 17 April 2023.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Max+Groups+Marine&rft.atitle=Ship+Launching+Airbags%2C+the+best+ship+launching+method%3F&rft.date=2016-10-25&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fmax-groups.com%2Fship-launching-airbags-best-ship-launching-method%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-frame01-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-frame01_8-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFrame2024" class="citation news cs1">Frame, Chris (17 April 2024). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://chrisframe.com.au/post/748097559812276224/why-are-ships-christened">"Why are Ship's Christened?"</a>. <i>Chris Frame Official (Maritime Historian)</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">17 June</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Chris+Frame+Official+%28Maritime+Historian%29&rft.atitle=Why+are+Ship%27s+Christened%3F&rft.date=2024-04-17&rft.aulast=Frame&rft.aufirst=Chris&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fchrisframe.com.au%2Fpost%2F748097559812276224%2Fwhy-are-ships-christened&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Au_axe-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Au_axe_9-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Au_axe_9-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation magazine cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20051105084732/http://www.nykline.co.jp/english/seascope/200501/index.htm">"Ripples in Time [ The Launching Ceremony and the Silver Axe ]"</a>. <i>Seascope</i>. No. 211. NYK Line. January 2005. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nykline.co.jp/english/seascope/200501/index.htm">the original</a> on 5 November 2005.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Seascope&rft.atitle=Ripples+in+Time+%5B+The+Launching+Ceremony+and+the+Silver+Axe+%5D&rft.issue=211&rft.date=2005-01&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nykline.co.jp%2Fenglish%2Fseascope%2F200501%2Findex.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ei-sahyadri-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-ei-sahyadri_10-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130531105929/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=131272">"City News, Indian City Headlines, Latest City News, Metro City News"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=131272">the original</a> on 31 May 2013.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=City+News%2C+Indian+City+Headlines%2C+Latest+City+News%2C+Metro+City+News&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fcities.expressindia.com%2Ffullstory.php%3Fnewsid%3D131272&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link tagged March 2024">dead link</span></a></i><span style="visibility:hidden; color:transparent; padding-left:2px">‍</span>]</span></sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Japanese were not the only ones to use an axe in launch ceremonies – <i>see</i> (a) British use of axe: <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090713064522/http://www.rnsubmusfriends.org.uk/12.html">"Recent Museum Acquisitions: Axe"</a>. <i>Friends of the RN Submarine Museum</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rnsubmusfriends.org.uk/12.html">the original</a> on 13 July 2009;</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Friends+of+the+RN+Submarine+Museum&rft.atitle=Recent+Museum+Acquisitions%3A+Axe&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rnsubmusfriends.org.uk%2F12.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span> (b) Dutch use of axe: <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110720010430/http://www.dehoopuitgeest.nl/engels/newsuk.html">"Christening of the working boat <i>Velsen</i> built on the heritage centre"</a>. <i>De Hoop Heritage Park, Uitgeest</i>. 30 August 2008. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dehoopuitgeest.nl/engels/newsuk.html">the original</a> on 20 July 2011.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=De+Hoop+Heritage+Park%2C+Uitgeest&rft.atitle=Christening+of+the+working+boat+Velsen+built+on+the+heritage+centre&rft.date=2008-08-30&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dehoopuitgeest.nl%2Fengels%2Fnewsuk.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-BBC_2024O4O8-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-BBC_2024O4O8_12-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-BBC_2024O4O8_12-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWatson2024" class="citation web cs1">Watson, Calum (8 April 2024). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1w5e2vg8wzo">"New CalMac ferry Glen Rosa launches into River Clyde"</a>. <i>BBC News</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">12 April</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=BBC+News&rft.atitle=New+CalMac+ferry+Glen+Rosa+launches+into+River+Clyde&rft.date=2024-04-08&rft.aulast=Watson&rft.aufirst=Calum&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fc1w5e2vg8wzo&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFReilly2021" class="citation web cs1">Reilly, John C. (5 January 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/christening-launching-and-commissioning-of-u-s-navy-ships.html">"Christening, Launching, and Commissioning of U.S. Navy Ships"</a>. <i>history.navy.mil</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 April</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=history.navy.mil&rft.atitle=Christening%2C+Launching%2C+and+Commissioning+of+U.S.+Navy+Ships&rft.date=2021-01-05&rft.aulast=Reilly&rft.aufirst=John+C.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.navy.mil%2Fresearch%2Fhistories%2Fship-histories%2Fchristening-launching-and-commissioning-of-u-s-navy-ships.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation journal cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/stream/pacificmarinerev3942paci#page/n58/mode/1up">"On the Ways: Launching Ceremonies to be Discontinued"</a>. <i>Pacific Marine Review</i> (January 1942): 99. 1942<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 August</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Pacific+Marine+Review&rft.atitle=On+the+Ways%3A+Launching+Ceremonies+to+be+Discontinued&rft.issue=January+1942&rft.pages=99&rft.date=1942&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fstream%2Fpacificmarinerev3942paci%23page%2Fn58%2Fmode%2F1up&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20050323033234/http://www.dcmilitary.com/navy/trident/8_36/national_news/">"Navy sponsors lift morale of Sailors, Marines"</a>. <i>dcmilitary.com</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dcmilitary.com/navy/trident/8_36/national_news/">the original</a> on 23 March 2005.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=dcmilitary.com&rft.atitle=Navy+sponsors+lift+morale+of+Sailors%2C+Marines&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcmilitary.com%2Fnavy%2Ftrident%2F8_36%2Fnational_news%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-scotsman-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-scotsman_16-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.scotsman.com/news/sudden-sinking-of-a-steamship-1-466504">"Sudden sinking of a steamship"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Scotsman" title="The Scotsman">The Scotsman</a></i>. 15 May 2006<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 March</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Scotsman&rft.atitle=Sudden+sinking+of+a+steamship&rft.date=2006-05-15&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scotsman.com%2Fnews%2Fsudden-sinking-of-a-steamship-1-466504&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Burt, p. 141</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Burt,_p._159-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Burt,_p._159_18-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Burt, p. 159</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160811163310/http://homecinema.thedigitalfix.co.uk/content/id/73551/tales-from-the-shipyard.html">"Tales from the Shipyard"</a>. <i>The Digital Fix</i>. 7 February 2011. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://homecinema.thedigitalfix.co.uk/content/id/73551/tales-from-the-shipyard.html">the original</a> on 11 August 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 December</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Digital+Fix&rft.atitle=Tales+from+the+Shipyard&rft.date=2011-02-07&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fhomecinema.thedigitalfix.co.uk%2Fcontent%2Fid%2F73551%2Ftales-from-the-shipyard.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140920015827/http://www.maritimeprofessional.com/Blogs/Eversafe-Marine/October-2011/Luxury-boat--SS-Jiugang%E2%80%9D-launch-failure.aspx">"Luxury boat "SS Jiugang" launch failure"</a>. <i>Maritime Logistics Professional</i>. 12 October 2011. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.maritimeprofessional.com/Blogs/Eversafe-Marine/October-2011/Luxury-boat--SS-Jiugang%E2%80%9D-launch-failure.aspx">the original</a> on 20 September 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 December</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Maritime+Logistics+Professional&rft.atitle=Luxury+boat+%22SS+Jiugang%22+launch+failure&rft.date=2011-10-12&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.maritimeprofessional.com%2FBlogs%2FEversafe-Marine%2FOctober-2011%2FLuxury-boat--SS-Jiugang%25E2%2580%259D-launch-failure.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACeremonial+ship+launching" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Silvia_Rodgers" title="Silvia Rodgers">Rodgers, Silvia</a> <i>The symbolism of ship launching in the Royal Navy</i> (1983) (PhD thesis)</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ceremonial_ship_launching&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235611614">.mw-parser-output .spoken-wikipedia{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);margin:0.5em 0;padding:0.2em;line-height:1.5em;font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .spoken-wikipedia-header{text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .spoken-wikipedia-listen-to{font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .spoken-wikipedia-files{text-align:center;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:0.4em}.mw-parser-output .spoken-wikipedia-icon{float:left;margin-left:5px;margin-top:10px}.mw-parser-output .spoken-wikipedia-disclaimer{margin-left:60px;margin-top:10px;font-size:95%;line-height:1.4em}.mw-parser-output .spoken-wikipedia-footer{margin-top:10px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .spoken-wikipedia{width:20em;float:right;clear:right;margin-left:1em}}</style><div class="spoken-wikipedia noprint haudio"><div class="spoken-wikipedia-header"><span class="spoken-wikipedia-listen-to">Listen to this article</span> (<span class="duration"><span class="min">13</span> minutes</span>)</div><div class="spoken-wikipedia-files"><figure class="mw-halign-center" typeof="mw:File"><span><audio id="mwe_player_2" controls="" preload="none" data-mw-tmh="" class="mw-file-element" width="200" style="width:200px;" data-durationhint="778" data-mwtitle="ShipNamingLaunching.ogg" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/ShipNamingLaunching.ogg" type="audio/ogg; 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scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Shiplife" title="Template:Shiplife"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Shiplife" title="Template talk:Shiplife"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Shiplife" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Shiplife"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Life_cycle_of_a_Navy_ship" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Life cycle of a Navy ship</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Service life</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Ceremonial ship launching</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_ship_launches" title="Lists of ship launches">lists by year</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ship_commissioning" title="Ship commissioning">Ship commissioning</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_ship_commissionings_and_decommissionings" title="Lists of ship commissionings and decommissionings">lists by year</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">After decommissioning</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Reserve_fleet" title="Reserve fleet">Reserve fleet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ship_breaking" title="Ship breaking">Ship breaking</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hulk_(ship_type)" title="Hulk (ship type)">Hulk</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ship-Submarine_Recycling_Program" title="Ship-Submarine Recycling Program">Ship-Submarine Recycling Program</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Retrofitting" title="Retrofitting">Retrofitting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scuttling" title="Scuttling">Scuttling</a> or <a href="/wiki/Target_ship" title="Target ship">Target ship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Museum_ship" title="Museum ship">Museum ship</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox authority-control" aria-labelledby="Authority_control_databases_frameless&#124;text-top&#124;10px&#124;alt=Edit_this_at_Wikidata&#124;link=https&#58;//www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q596643#identifiers&#124;class=noprint&#124;Edit_this_at_Wikidata" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" 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