What Is a Horned Shellback?

For instance, those who cross the 180-degree Prime Meridian and the Equator at the same time become Golden Shellbacks. ... Or, if you round the Horn and cross the Equator on the same voyage, you are duly honored as a Horned Shellback.

What is the order of the shellback?

The shellback is simple enough: a sailor on official duty “crosses the line” of the equator. A golden shellback is more impressive; it means they've crossed at or near the International Date Line. Even rarer, crossing at the Prime Meridian grants you access into the Order of the Emerald Shellback.

Does the Navy still do shellback?

United States Navy. The U.S. Navy has well-established line-crossing rituals. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. Those who have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs.