King Neptune's Court on the Type 42 destroyer HMS York as she crosses the equator in 1986

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'Crossing the Line' is one of the oldest traditions in the Royal Navy and takes place when a ship crosses the equator. Royal Navy tradition dictates that any ship crossing the equator must pay its respects to the Lord of the Seas, King Neptune, to gain his acceptance. The ceremony involves sailors being tested to ensure they are capable of 'handling rough seas' and, as per tradition, can see them being painted, fed a less than appetising snack and being dunked.

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Size: 6628px × 4476px
Location: Indian Ocean
Photo credit: © Troy GB images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1980s, 42, 1986, ceremony, company, court, crew, crossing, destroyer, equator, hms, naval, navy, neptunes, royal, sailors, sea, ships, tradition, traditions, type, warship, york