Prism of Prose

Plank owner

  • A wood model replica of the tugboat Clint served on. Photo by John Shafer in 2019 at the Mare Island Naval Museum.
    A wood model replica of the tugboat Clint served on. Photo by John Shafer in 2019 at the Mare Island Naval Museum.
  • The Plank Owners patch Clint received after the initial cruise of the tugboat.
    The Plank Owners patch Clint received after the initial cruise of the tugboat.

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    A new ship or boat is commissioned when put out to sea for the first time. All crewmembers on board for the maiden voyage are considered plank owners. This is also true if the vessel has been re-commissioned after sitting in the “bone yard.”

    After testing electrical systems on nuclear submarines for about 18 months, I was sent down the waterfront to a tugboat. It was a 135 foot fleet tugboat built…