A
plankowner is a member of a ships first permanently-attached
crew.
US Navy tradition had them
ring the arrival/departure bells when a plankowner visited the ship, which unfortunately not all
commands follow.
A plankowner is usually given a colourful award, suitable for framing, denoting their status. A copy is also placed in their service record.
Our own beloved fugitive is a plankowner of the USS Rentz.