Ship Launching and Commissioning

• Ship launching and commissioning marks a ship's entry into active Navy service
• When the commissioning pennant is broken at the masthead, the ship becomes a Navy command and joins the active fleet

Commissioning Ceremony

• The ceremony has been observed by navies for three centuries
• The U.S. Navy has observed it since December 1775
• The first ship of the Continental Navy, Alfred, was commissioned in Philadelphia.
• The commanding officer and crew are responsible for the ship's readiness and operations in peace and war after commissioning

Early Commissioning Procedures

• There was no written procedure for commissioning in the Navy's early days
• Commissioning was derived from British naval custom
• Early ship commissionings were simple military events
• The prospective commanding officer would board, call the crew to quarters, and read their orders
• They would order the ensign and commissioning pennant raised, marking the ship's commissioning and the first entry in the ship's deck log

Ship Commissionings

• Ship commissioning ceremonies are a significant milestone in the life of a U.S. Navy ship,
• The commissioning ceremony has been a U.S. Navy tradition since 1775
• The act of commissioning ships was derived from British naval custom, without any public fanfare or a precise written procedure

Key Figures

• In a ship's life, the sponsor is a key figure
• The Secretary of the Navy chooses a female sponsor, often based on her connection to the ship's namesake or mission
• Plank owners, the original commissioning crew, are responsible for bringing the vessel to life as a U.S. Navy warship
• The prospective commanding officer traditionally hosts the commissioning ceremony

Traditions

• The commissioning ceremony includes speeches from leaders and distinguished guests
• The Navy leader announces the ship's commissioning to the crowd
• The prospective commanding officer orders the colors and commissioning pennant to be hoisted by the prospective executive officer
• The ship becomes a Navy command when broken at the masthead
• The commanding officer reads the orders
• The executive officer sets the watch
• The ship's sponsor orders, "Man our ship and bring her to life!"
• The crew man the rails, and the ship's systems come online
• The modern U.S. Navy commissioning pennant is blue with seven white stars and has a horizontal red and white stripe
• The commissioning ceremony is a joyous and memorable occasion

Ship launching and commissioning marks a ship's entry into active Navy service. After commissioning, the commanding officer and crew are responsible for the ship's readiness and operations. The U.S. Navy has observed commissioning since December 1775.