Maritime Traditions

Maritime culture is a deeply rooted culture that has developed over thousands of years by facilitating interaction and communication between societies belonging to different cultures. Although different practices and traditions are kept alive in many parts of the world, it has brought together millions of people for purposes such as trade, hobbies, and transportation. As a result of these meetings and interactions, traditions dating back many years have emerged. We discuss some of these traditions in our article.

Salutations:

* It is customary to raise your hand to those passing by.
* If you are passing through the Dardanelles, pay your respects as you pass in front of the Monument to the Martyrs.
* Military ships passing close by (regardless of nationality) should be saluted. Saluting is done by lowering the flag. Regardless of its size, a civilian ship salutes a military ship. The civilian ship lowers its flag and waits. When the military ship sees the lowered flag, it also lowers its flag. The military ship raises its flag, and when the civilian ship raises its flag, the salute is complete. Not saluting or returning a salute is considered a serious offense. On yachts, the short flagpoles may not allow for a salute to be displayed. However, they receive the salute as soon as they see movement on the stern.
* When civilian-civilian or civilian-military ships encounter each other at sea, exchanging good wishes via radio is also a form of salute. Especially in distant and foreign waters, saying “May God grant you safety” boosts the morale of Turkish sailors.
* Captains of ships sailing in opposite directions in the ocean chat with each other using devices such as cell phones, satellite phones, SSB, etc., even when they are very far apart. If their routes are heading toward each other (for example, one from the US to Europe and the other from Europe to the US), they adjust their routes to pass close to each other. When they meet, they greet each other with a whistle.
* When entering through the stern on a warship, a salute is given to the flag on the mast. If you are a civilian, you turn your body toward the mast and flag and give a head salute.
* Following the announcement of “lumbar mouth starboard bow” on a warship, everyone must stand at attention during the subsequent “arya” or “toka” announcement, just as we stand at attention when we hear the national anthem while walking on the street.

Calling the Wind:

* A knife is stuck into the mast for the wind.
* The base of the mast is scratched, and the words “Haydar Haydar” are chanted.
* If there is no wind, the captain throws money into the sea to buy wind from Poseidon.

Approaches, Greetings, Farewells:

* If you are going ashore from a boat you have boarded, walk around the front of the mast, not the cockpit.
* If you board a boat, approach it sideways if possible so that its bow is facing your stern.
* There is another beautiful tradition. A ship returning to port after a long voyage is welcomed. The welcome begins with the rope being taken, followed by a daily newspaper and, in the morning, simit/pogaça.
* Those entering the port to seek shelter in stormy weather are offered hot tea and light, stomach-settling food on board. It is assumed that they may not be able to cook in stormy weather.
* If a boat returning from a voyage docks at your pier or a place you can easily reach, hot or cold drinks appropriate for the season and time of day are served.
* Sailors going on long voyages are seen off from the pier.
* As the ship departs from the pier and sets sail, the phrase “Neta Pruva” is uttered, followed by “May God grant you safety.”
* When a boat leaves a port with the intention of not returning (or it is desired that it not return), the rope is cut.

Mutual Aid:

* Even if we do not know them, we assist those who are anchoring, casting off, or maneuvering to dock or depart.
* We provide food and supplies to any ship in need.

On land:

* It is customary for a boat that has come ashore not to carry a flag at the stern and to re-hoist the flag when it returns to sea. The only exception is warships, as they retain their combat capability even while on land due to their armaments.
* Warships perform the Arya and Toka flag ceremonies even when in dry dock.
* One should not sit on the bollards at the pier.

At sea:

* On Sundays, all Turkish merchant ships serve dried beans, rice, and pickles. In the Ottoman Navy, dried beans were served on Fridays. In our navy, they are served on Mondays. Dried beans should be cooked without meat, pastrami, or sausage, using small beans, in the style of sailor beans.
* Except in special circumstances, money does not circulate on board or between ships; goods are exchanged.
* Running on the ship is considered strange.
* The phrase “Bismillah” is always said during the first movements; “Vira Bismillah,” “Bismillah fundo,” etc.
* When entering or exiting the bridge during shift handover, the phrase “May Allah grant you safety” is said as a final wish for good intentions.
* One does not sit on the benches on the deck.
* During navigation, it is customary for a person entering the bridge to stand in front of the door and ask the watch officer for permission, saying, “I request permission to enter the bridge, Captain.”
* The lowest-ranking personnel board the workboat first. Then the higher-ranking personnel board, and finally the commander. The commander does not wait and is not made to wait. When disembarking, the opposite applies. The commander disembarks first, followed by the higher-ranking personnel. The lowest-ranking personnel disembark last.
* Even if the boat owner is an acquaintance, one may not board the deck without permission.
* Whether on the bridge or at the control panel, one does not sit in the captain’s chair.
* When descending to a lower deck on the boat, one does not turn around but descends facing forward using the stairs.

New Boat

* For good luck, a pair of shoes is thrown into the sea immediately after the boat is launched.
* Changing the name of the boat: When you want to change the name of a second-hand boat you have purchased, it is both a matter of respect and a nice seafaring tradition to ask the person who gave it its old name for permission, even if only verbally. Similarly, even if you are not going to change the name, it is a good idea to ask for permission. The boat name may hold special meaning for the previous owner, who may not wish to share it with others or may wish to continue using it on their new boat.
According to belief, every name is recorded in the depths register by Poseidon or Neptune. If the name is to be changed, the old name must be removed from the register in accordance with tradition.

The process of removing the old name is as follows:

• All traces of the old name must be erased, and then a few weeks must be waited. (Notes, life jackets, etc.)
• The old name is written in ink that can be removed from a plaque.
• A quality champagne or sparkling wine is obtained.
• Friends and acquaintances are invited to the ceremony.
• Wishes and blessings are offered to the Kingdom of the Depths. Tolerance and smooth sailing are requested, and they are not offended.
• The plaque with the name written on it is thrown into the sea from the bow.
• The champagne or sparkling wine is opened, half of it is poured from east to west, and the rest is shared with friends.

It is now time to name the boat. This is done immediately after the name is removed.

• A bottle of champagne or sparkling wine is poured into the sea from west to east. The boat owner and his wife each drink a glass.
• Favorable winds and calm seas are requested from the wings of God.

Another procedure applied in this regard is as follows: The necessary materials are:
• Two bottles of wine
• One rabbit’s foot
• Six inches (18 cm) of red hair.

Let’s move on to the application:

The red hair is wrapped around the rabbit’s foot. The rabbit’s foot is soaked in champagne. The old name is vigorously rubbed off with the rabbit’s foot. Without turning around, the rabbit’s foot is thrown into the sea over your shoulders, or the second person pours the foot into the sea from a bucket. The remaining champagne is drunk. The new name is written in its place. During the ceremony, a second bottle is opened and poured over the new name, and the rest is drunk.

Superstitions:

* You should not travel on the first day of April. Because Cain, the son of Prophet Adam, was killed on that day out of jealousy.
* You should not travel on Fridays.
* A black travel bag is bad luck.
* When going to the ship for a journey, if we encounter someone with red hair or flat feet, we must speak to them first.
* If a plug made from stolen wood is used in the keel, it makes the ship fast.
* A silver coin placed under the main mast ensures a successful journey.
* If you board the boat with your left foot, an accident will follow you.
* Throwing a stone into the sea brings big waves and storms.
* If the stone thrown from the ship does not reach the sea, the ship will not return.
* Cut flowers bring bad luck.
* A woman on the boat angers the sea, while a naked woman calms it.
* Do not look back at the pier.
* Seeing a black cat is good. It brings sailors home (England). In other countries, the opposite is believed.
* Seeing a swallow or a dolphin is good luck.
* Seeing a cormorant or a kingfisher does not bring good luck.
* Killing a dolphin, albatross, or seagull is not good, because they carry the souls of lost sailors.
* Losing a bucket and brush, repairing the flag at the stern, cutting nails and hair while sailing, or using the word “drown” brings bad luck.
* A thrush feather protects against death in a maritime accident.
* A cup of wine poured from the ship and dedicated to Neptune protects those who fall from the ship.
* A horseshoe on the mast wards off storms.
* If the name of the boat is not changed according to tradition, it is not good.
* A gold earring protects a sailor from drowning and ensures they will become a sailor again in their next life.
* Getting a tattoo brings good luck.
* Do not anger the ship’s cat, or a storm will arise.
* The eye on the opposite side of the ear where the earring is worn sees more clearly. The earring also increases the sailor’s range of vision.
* The gold ring worn in the ear is used to pay for the sailor’s funeral expenses.
* Whistling brings bad luck.
* If the number of fish caught is counted, no more fish can be caught that day.
* Painting the stern of the ship (boat) brings bad luck.
* Talking with your back to the bow is considered bad luck and an insult.
* Rubbing your feet on the puntel or placing your foot on the puntel brings accidents and misfortune.
* Red-bearded, red-headed people are considered unlucky.
* If the champagne bottle breaks the first time it is broken while the boat is being launched into the sea, bad luck will follow the boat.

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