Naming And Commissioning Ceremony HMJS Norman Manley
Theme: Ready to Go
The tradition of a ship Christening or Naming Ceremony dates back thousands
of years. On the day of a ship’s naming, the new ship is tastefully dressed with flags and long rolls of ribbons. Thereafter, a Lady is asked to cut a ribbon, and smash a bottle of champagne against the ship's bow, christening the ship. The Naming Ceremony is believed to bring good fortune and safety to the new ship, its crew, and passengers.
The Commissioning of a ship refers to her being officially placed into active service. The Commissioning date is also regarded as the birth date of the ship, the date from which its service is measured. The Chief of Defence Staff issues a signed warrant or Commissioning Order to the Commanding Officer of a ship which stipulates the manner in which the captain and crew are to carry out their duties.
HMJS NORMAN MANLEY is the fifth vessel of her class, the Honour class. She joins the remaining Honour Class vessels in the execution of the JDF Coast Guard’s missions which include Maritime Law Enforcement, Maritime Safety, Search and Rescue, Port Security, Customs and Immigration Law Enforcement and Fisheries Protection.
The abbreviation HMJS Stands for His Majesty's Jamaican Ship. All Commissioned Naval Units, whether afloat or shore-based based are treated as commissioned ships and, as such, all naval customs, traditions and protocols are observed while onboard the vessel or any Naval Unit.