A U.S. Navy spokesperson tells PEOPLE marking a ship’s passage across the equator has been a tradition for centuries. But the ceremonies are now optional — and no longer look like this There's a ...

Nearly 900 “pollywogs” serving aboard the Japan-bound USS Wasp became “shellbacks” during a weekend equator-crossing ceremony in the Atlantic Ocean. Tradition holds that as a ship approaches the ...

As the cruise ship Voyager of the Seas nears the equator, excitement mounts and all Pollywogs – those who have never crossed the line – are encouraged to register for the crossing the equator ceremony ...

There's a long-standing tradition among sailors on U.S. Navy ships when they cross the equator: Those onboard who've already experienced the passage, called shellbacks, perform an elaborate initiation ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Vintage Navy. credit line – Vintage photographs by Dzintars Dale Vintage photographs by Dzintars Dale There's a long-standing ...