Seafarer Certificates
These are all unofficial certificates that document where a Sailor has been, what they have done, and most importantly, what they are—a Shellback, a Blue Nose, or Golden Dragon. These are just a small sampling of the possible unofficial certificates a person can acquire.
On any noteworthy occasion — and perhaps on some that might be otherwise forgotten — somebody in the crew is sure to spend hours at a drawing board to create a memorable certificate, replete with salty language, drawings of mermaids and tritons and anchors and chains.
Mariners of a time long past, when it all began, accomplished these titles in earnest. As all those sailors knew well, Neptune, god of the sea, was fickle. They all knew that King Neptune played an important role in ancient rituals just as he does in today's initiations into the Orders of the Deep. King Neptune his slightest whim, it was believed, might throw a storm into the path of a ship that would splinter her oars and spars like matchwood, or cast her onto the rocky coast.
Nowadays these events still occur but it's done all in fun and without official recognition.
The display and use of these certificates are with the permission of Tiffany Publishing Company. These certificates may be purchased from Tiffany Publishing Company.
PLANK OWNER - Commissioning a Ship or Shore Command
SHELLBACK - Crossing the Equator
GOLDEN SHELLBACK - Crossing the Equator at the International Date Line
EMERALD SHELLBACK - Crossing the Equator at the Greenwich Meridian
PERSIAN EXCURSION - The Persian Excursion commemorates service in the Persian/Arabian Gulf.
BLUE NOSE - Crossing the Arctic Circle. Specialty Blue Noses may be issued for those crossing under the ice, surfacing at the Pole, etc. Also known as the "Northern Domain of the Polar Bear"and or "Frozen Stiff"
GOLDEN DRAGON - Crossing the International Date Line
ORDER OF MAGELLAN - Going around the World
SPANISH MAIN - Cruising the Caribbean
ORDER OF THE DITCH - Transiting the Panama Canal
SAFARI TO SUEZ - Transiting the Suez Canal
ORDER OF THE ROCK - Transit through the Straits of Gibraltar
REALM OF THE CZARS - Cruising the Black Sea
DEEP DIVE - Crew members for First Dives and Last Dives
RED NOSE - Crossing the Antarctic Circle Special Red Nose may be issued for wintering over, Byrd Station Society, Palmer Station, etc. Also known as the "Royal Domain of the Penguin"
The display and use of these certificates are with the permission of Tiffany Publishing Company. These certificates may be purchased from Tiffany Publishing Company.