Minister Raksha Khadse to play ‘Godmother’ at the naming ceremony of Maersk’s dual-fuel methanol container ship in Mumbai

Raksha is a lawmaker from the Bharatiya Janata Party, representing the Raver seat in the Lok Sabha. This will be the first instance of a global shipping line conducting the ship naming ceremony in India, demonstrating the country’s importance to the Danish carrier’s strategy for sourcing alternative fuels at scale to power these vessels.

The naming ceremony will be held at Gateway Terminals India Pvt Ltd, 74% owned by A P M Terminals Management B V, the container terminal operating unit of Maersk. Gateway Terminals is one of the five container handling facilities operating at J N port, India’s busiest state-owned container gateway and the nation’s second largest overall. The event will be attended by Vincent Clerc, Maersk’s Chief Executive Officer and Keith Svendsen, Executive Vice President. The name-giving ceremony of ships, also referred to as a christening or launching ceremony, is a significant event steeped in maritime history and cultural tradition. It symbolises the vessel’s formal transition from construction to active service, marking the beginning of its journey at sea. It is also considered a ritual that gives a soul to the vessel, which is thus far only a material object. During this event, a blessing or prayer is often performed to invoke protection, good fortune, and successful voyages for the vessel and the crew. This practice has its roots in ancient rituals, where such blessings were believed to appease the gods or spirits of the sea…Historically, this act signified the ship’s official inclusion in a fleet, whether for naval or commercial purposes and underscored the vessel’s importance within its community or organisation.

The tradition is also tied to maritime superstitions. A properly conducted name-giving ceremony is believed to bring good fortune to the vessel, but neglecting or mishandling the ritual is considered a bad omen. Breaking a bottle of champagne (or a symbolic beverage) on the ship’s hull during the ceremony is a widespread practice, thought to bestow blessings on the vessel. If the bottle fails to break, it is often considered an ill omen. Beyond its symbolic elements, the ceremony is a celebration involving the community, dignitaries, and the vessel’s Godmother, often a prominent individual chosen to name the vessel…The Godmother represents the human and emotional bond between the ship, its crew, and the wider community it serves. This role is steeped in symbolism…