"Hodgkinson illustrates his points with reference to a whole range of unusual and historic ship launches, and goes into the evolution of all kinds of different customs associated with the phenomenon."

Nautilus International - Nautilus Telegraph, March-April 2024

"This is an interesting and informative book about a shipbuilding process that might be considered routine. Far from it. This fine book is full of centuries of launching methods, ceremonies, superstitions and mishaps."

Powerships Magazine - Winter 2024

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Sea Breezes Magazine - January 2024

"An astonishingly comprehensive study of ship launches around the world from ancient times to the present day. The author combines wealth of detail with thematic analysis. Superstition has long accompanied launching rituals and, even in a more rational age an unsuccessful ceremony is still seen by some as a bad omen. The role of a female naming ‘god-mother’ is revealed to be relatively new and, while a religious element is central to some launching traditions, this is by no means universal. Altogether a fascinating, well illustrated and readable book."

Sarah Palmer, Emeritus Professor of Maritime History at University of Greenwich