Did you know that when the first Hafnia tanker ships were ordered, it was originally decided to name all 8 vessels after some of the important women in our Founding Partners and Chairpeople’s lives?
Although there is no formal procedure to name a ship once it is built, it is traditional practice in the Maritime community to name it. It is believed that the name of a ship has a great role in bringing good fortune and safety to the vessel and its crew.
The history of a ship naming ceremony dates to thousands of years, where several pieces of evidence suggested the naval community in Babylonia used to perform ship launching and naming ceremonies in the 3rd millennium BC. Similarly, mariners from Rome, Egypt and Greece conducted christening ceremonies to seek help from their gods to protect vessels before starting on their first voyages.
A ship naming ceremony is often done during the launching of the vessel. After the ship is launched, the vessels godmother (another traditional practice in which a female civilian sponsors a vessel to wish it good luck, and a safe journey), smashes a champagne bottle on the bow of the ship.
The christening ceremony will see the ships name officially revealed in front of the invited audience.
Historically, ships were named after goddesses and other mythical figures. This practice changed as owners started to name their ships after female names that held great significant in their lives.
Ships are always usually female, but not always.
Traditionally ships were referred to with the feminine pronoun although this practice is in steady decline in these days.
Naming the Hafnia 8 Original Sister Vessels…
In 2013, Hafnia ordered 8 MR units, which were built and launched from Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China.
These vessels have been named as follows and are happily sailing under the Hafnia family flag!
Hafnia Lene, 2015, – named after Anders Engholm´s wife, Lene, who also became the Godmother. Lene is still greeting the Ccaptain and crew for each Christmas and New Year.
Hafnia Ane, 2015, – named after Thomas Andersen’s wife.
Hafnia Lene and Hafnia Ane experienced a dual christening in China, followed by a big celebration, as these were the first vessels to be delivered.
Hafnia Daisy, 2016 – named after Mikael Skov’s wife.
Hafnia Henriette, 2016, – named after Torben Bager´s wife.
Hafnia Lise, 2016 – named after Peter Sebber Larsen´s late mother.
Hafnia Kirsten, 2016 – named after Jan Mechlenburg’s wife.
Hafnia Lotte, 2017, – named after Erik Bartness’s wife.
Hafnia Mikala, 2017, – named after Søren Steenberg’s eldest daughter.
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