The Mystery Behind Boat Naming Traditions And Superstitions

Naming a boat is a special tradition that has been around for thousands of years. It is believed that the practice began when sailors named their vessels after deities and saints, hoping for good fortune and safe voyages. Choosing a boat name is an important process, steeped in lore and superstition. One such superstition is that it's bad luck to rename a boat, as Poseidon or Neptune, the gods of the sea, know every boat by name. While there are many creative directions one could take, there are also several rules and best practices to follow when naming a boat. For instance, the name should be short and easy to communicate, and it should not include language used to seek help at sea.

SS can stand for 'Steam Ship'

The prefix "SS" is commonly used in the maritime industry and stands for "steamship". It is used to identify ships that are powered by steam engines, distinguishing them from sailing ships or vessels reliant on human oars. The use of "SS" emerged during the early 19th century, also known as the age of steam-powered ships, to indicate that a ship was propelled by steam.

The SS prefix has a long history tied to the transformative changes in ocean travel brought about by steam power. The SS Great Western, which set sail from Bristol to New York on April 8, 1838, was the first steamship designed for regular transatlantic passenger service. This vessel demonstrated the potential of steam power, significantly reducing travel time across the Atlantic.

The "SS" prefix can also represent "screw steamer" or "single screw", denoting that billowing steam from boilers drove paddles or propellers. The cultural impact of "SS" extends beyond its technical meaning, evoking a sense of nostalgia, adventure, and the romantic era of steam-powered travel.

While "SS" primarily indicates steam-powered ships, modern ship-naming conventions have introduced variations. For example, certain ships may combine multiple prefixes, such as "SSRV" (Steam Ship Research Vessel), to indicate specific features or purposes.

S.S. can stand for 'Sailing Ship'

The prefix "S.S." on a ship stands for "steamship" and is used to define that a vessel is powered by a steam engine. The use of the "S.S." prefix dates back to the early 19th century when steamships were first introduced. At that time, the prefix distinguished steam-powered ships from sailing ships, as steam power allowed for faster and more efficient travel.

While "S.S." typically stands for "steamship", it can, in rare cases, refer to a "single-screw ship," a ship with one propeller. However, this definition is not always accurate.

The "S.S." prefix is commonly used in historical contexts and is not as prevalent today. In the early 1900s, steam power was a widespread means of ship propulsion, but today, most ships use fuel oil or diesel for propulsion.

It is worth noting that the use of prefixes for civilian vessels is inconsistent and often omitted altogether. The "S.S." prefix is still used for historical and nostalgic reasons and to distinguish steam-powered ships from other types of vessels.

While "S.S." can be interpreted as "Sailing Ship," this is not accurate. The correct prefix for a sailing vessel is "SV," which stands for "Sailing Vessel."

SV means 'Sailing Vessel'

The prefix "SV" is used in boat names and stands for "Sailing Vessel". This is a common abbreviation in the US, whereas in the UK, "SY" (for Sailing Yacht) is more commonly used.

The use of "SV" as an abbreviation for "Sailing Vessel" is a widely accepted nautical term. It is used to describe a sailboat, which is a vessel propelled by sails using the wind. Sailboats are different from sailing ships, which are denoted by the prefix "SS".

The distinction between "SV" and "SS" is important in the boating world. "SV" refers to smaller, non-square-rigged vessels, while "SS" is reserved for larger, square-rigged ships with at least four masts. This distinction is made because "ship" is typically defined as a vessel with three masts, square-rigged on all of them. While a four-masted ship with all square rigging was not common, there were some iron "windjammers" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that featured this rig.

In addition to "SV" and "SS", there are other prefixes used for different types of vessels. For example, "SY" can stand for "Steam Yacht", "MV" for "Motor Vessel", and "M/S" for "Motor Ship". These prefixes are often used in official forms, such as MMSI and AIS identifiers.

HMS stands for 'His/Her Majesty's Ship'

The prefix "HMS" stands for "His/Her Majesty's Ship" and is used for ships of the navy in some monarchies. It is most commonly associated with the British Royal Navy, where it was first used in 1789 with respect to HMS Phoenix. During the late 17th century, following the Restoration, the name Royal Navy was officially adopted, along with the prefix "His Majesty's Ship", and later, "Her Majesty's Ship".

The prefix is also used by shore establishments that are commissioned as "stone frigates" in the Royal Navy. Examples include HMS Excellent, a training school on an island in Portsmouth Harbour, and HMS Vulcan, in the Highland area of Scotland, which tests the design of nuclear power systems for use in submarines.

The sample ship name used by the Royal Navy to signify a hypothetical vessel is HMS Nonsuch. This name has been used historically; on the eve of World War II, it was given to the Royal Canadian Navy, and as of 2012, it was the name of the Edmonton Division of the Canadian Naval Reserve.

Historically, variants of HMS have been used by the navies of British colonies, and this practice has been maintained in several Commonwealth countries and realms, as well as former members of the British Empire. Some examples of this include:

• Canada: His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS)
• Australia: His Majesty's Australian Ship (HMAS)
• New Zealand: His Majesty's New Zealand Ship (HMNZS)
• Jamaica: His Majesty's Jamaican Ship (HMJS)
• India: His Majesty's Indian Ship (HMIS)

USS means 'United States Ship'

The prefix "USS" is used to identify a commissioned ship of the United States Navy. "USS" stands for "United States Ship". It is used as a prefix for the names of sea-faring ships and has been placed on the hulls of various seagoing warships, including aircraft carriers and ironclads.

The use of "USS" as a prefix for US Navy ships was established in 1907 when President Theodore Roosevelt issued Executive Order 549, stating that all US Navy ships were to be referred to as:

> "The name of such vessel, preceded by the words, United States Ship, or the letters U.S.S., and by no other words or letters."

Before a ship is commissioned, it may be referred to as a "pre-commissioning unit" (PCU) or by its name without a prefix. Once a ship is decommissioned, it is typically referred to by its name without the prefix, although some people add the prefix "ex-" before the ship's name. Non-commissioned Navy ships that are the property of the US Navy use the prefix "USNS", which stands for "United States Naval Ship". These ships are unarmed and crewed by civilians.

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