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USS Porter Crosses the Line

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071103-01
Release Date: 11/3/2007 8:33:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Gearhiser, Kearsarge Strike Group Public Affairs

INDIAN OCEAN (NNS) -- On the morning of Oct. 13, guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) crossed the dividing line between the north and south hemispheres, the equator.

Upon doing so, the ship was visited by Davy Jones and the members of King Neptune's court to test those Sailors who had not yet proved themselves to their fellow shipmates.

Thus begins one of the oldest traditions in maritime history, the crossing of the line ceremony. The ceremony marks whenever a ship crosses the equator and is punctuated by multiple events that pit Sailors who have yet to cross the equator, "Pollywogs," against those that have, "Shellbacks."

"The crossing the line ceremony is a traditional ceremony among seafarers, not just the U.S. Navy," said Chief Warrant Officer James E. Marshall, who first crossed the equator in 1981. Marshall is Porter's Central Information Center officer and also King Neptune in the ceremony. "It is believed that during ancient times, senior Sailors tested younger Sailors to see if they could stand up to the rigors of the sea. It [dates] back to Greek, Viking and Scandinavian Sailors."

The ceremony begins the day prior to the ceremony with a talent show performed by the "Pollywogs" to entertain the "Shellbacks." The next day, the Pollywogs' teamwork skills are tested.

"The actual ceremony has Sailors dress in strange uniforms going through different stations to help teach them to work as a team and build camaraderie before presenting themselves to King Neptune," Marshall continued.

Prior to starting the crossing of the line ceremony safety concerns and regulations are explained to the crew.

"First, the fleet commander puts out a guidance for the ceremony, [and] then the Crossing the Line committee determines what occurs," said Marshall, who heads the committee. "We have safety observers posted throughout the ceremony in addition to training sent to every Sailor aboard via e-mail ensuring all Sailors are aware of what you can and can't do. The goal is to have a fun and memorable time while maintaining tradition."

The tradition of the ceremony is one of the things that drive Senior Chief Surface Sonar Technician Mike Bustos to participate in the ceremony as Davy Jones.

"It's good that we're acknowledging the tradition of entering King Neptune's realm," he said. "There's a lot of tradition that we lose over time, even though the Navy is a very traditional service; a lot of what we do has something to do with the past."

Porter is currently underway as part of the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group and is conducting maritime security operations.