During the voyage to Australia to attend the international naval parade and Kakadu-2026 multilateral naval exercise, ship 016 – Quang Trung of Brigade 162, Region 4 of the Vietnam People's Navy crossed the equator and held a traditional ceremony right on the ship's helicopter yard.
The ceremony was chaired by Colonel Nguyen Minh Lanh - Deputy Chief of Staff of Naval Region 4, Head of the working delegation - with the participation of all officers, soldiers and forces participating in the sea voyage.
In the history of world navigation, ships crossing the equator has always been considered a special milestone in the life of each sailor.
Since ancient times, expeditionary ships or merchant ships when passing through latitude 0 have often held symbolic rituals to express their respect for the sea god Neptune - the god who rules the ocean in Western mythology.
According to the long-standing tradition of the international maritime industry, this ritual is considered a milestone marking a sailor's first time crossing the equator and being recognized by the "Sea God" as a true sailor.
The organization of the ceremony also shows integration, respect for customs and the common identity of the international maritime community.
Today, many ancient rituals no longer retain their original form.
However, for ocean sailors, the moment the ship crossed the equator was still of special significance.
This is often an opportunity to organize fun cultural activities on the ship, marking memorable memories in the long journey at sea, and at the same time sending wishes for a peaceful and smooth trip.
Colonel Nguyen Minh Lanh emphasized that the equator is not only a parallel on the map but also has special significance for the planet. The equator contributes to regulating the climate, maintaining rich ecosystems and showing the connection between humans and Earth - where life is formed and developed.
For the navy, the equator crossing ceremony also expresses the professional pride and identity of a marine soldier.
Crossing the equator and participating in traditional rituals is an important milestone in the military life of each sailor, while affirming the ability to master the ship, to master the distant sea.
The equator is located at latitude 0°, dividing the Earth into two hemispheres, North and South, with a length of about 40,075 km and is the longest latitude on the planet.
Vietnam is not located on the equator but belongs to the northern region of this latitude, so the climate is characterized by tropical monsoons with clear seasonal differentiation.
