The simple answer is that if you use 'it' exclusively, you will never be 'wrong'.
The 'mother ship' could be an ocean ship or a spaceship. Like a beautiful yacht, a plane could become 'she' under the right conditions. A car might also be 'she', with a nickname even. When such an inanimate object engenders feelings of love or affection, then people sometimes feel more comfortable giving it a female personality.
Last edited by jolihokistix; 21st January 2017 at 20:47.