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Ceremonial ship launching

Ceremonial ship launching involves the performance 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.

"Ship's name" redirects here. For name of a ship, see ship name.

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 many traditions intended to invite good luck, such as christening by breaking a sacrificial bottle of champagne over the bow as the ship is named aloud and launched.[1]

sank moments after her launching at a shipyard in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland on 3 July 1883. As Daphne moved into the river, the anchors failed to stop the ship's forward progress. The starboard 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 Daphne and flipped it onto its port side, sinking it in deep water.[15] 124 died including many young boys, some of whose relatives were there on shore.

SS Daphne

launched on 21 June 1898.[16] Albion created a wave with her entry into the water after the Duchess of York 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.[17] This was probably one of the first-ever ship launchings to be filmed.[18]

HMS Albion

In 1907, the Italian ocean liner capsized and sank upon launch.

Principessa Jolanda

In 2011, the luxury boat SS Jiugang sank at launch in .[19]

Lanzhou, China

Ship class naming conventions

United States ship naming conventions

Russian ship naming conventions

Japanese ship-naming conventions

Hull classification symbol

Ship commissioning

Ship sponsor

Lists of ship launches

The symbolism of ship launching in the Royal Navy (1983) (PhD thesis)

Rodgers, Silvia

Photos of the 8 Dec 1984 launching ceremony of the USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFsG 58)

An online exhibit of ship launching ceremonies from the first half of the 20th Century

Short video of ships being launched sideways