Except we forget that the English language, which dumped most of this gender-ization process nine or ten centuries ago, still retains a special case — which, notably, to most English speakers is optional. It is held onto by traditionalists and specialists. The rule is that “she” can optionally apply to:
a ship at sea
another kind of vessel, such as a train (rarer)
a country or a continent
Again, note the “optional” nature of this oddity in the English language. If I call I ship an “it,” few people are going to conclude I don’t speak correct English. However, if I’m talking to an “old salt” or someone who’s spent their life in he Navy or around boats, then yeah, they actually will care and they will correct me.