Why ships are 'she'
"Ships have a soul, If I remember my history, they are female because
originally the ship was the only woman allowed at sea and was treated
with deference and respect -- and because they are expensive."
-- an unnamed British Defense Ministry spokesman, explaining why the
Royal Navy would continue referring to ships as "she". (Respected
maritime newspaper Lloyd's List recently announced that they would
refer to ships as "it".)
