Well it doesn't make much sense for ships does it? But while you can certainly say "the Bismarck" and almost everyone will understand you, I'm not so sure if anyone knew what you're talking about if you talk about "the Gustav". Without the word hurricane it just doesn't make too much sense, and since that is masculine I'd say Gustav is a "he". Even Katrina was a "he" here.
Most of the words for a ship I can think of are neutral, but probably "the ark" is the reason why ships are spoken of in a feminine way?
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