2.

4 MAN OVERBOARD

The actions of the officer of the watch and the ship will depend .On the circumstances of
each individual case. To take account of every eventuality would be impossible, but
a general sequence of actions to take might he the following:

 The alarm should be raised as soon as possible, once details of what has happened,
are known.
 It is required to have knowledge of MOB signal and release of L/Buoy and the following
immediate action is expected to be taken/and or directed by OOW as necessary:
o Order helm hard over towards the side on which the man fell, before
commencing a Williamson turn (Figure)
o Release the bridge wing lifebuoy and combined smoke/light
o Stand by main engines to manoeuvre the vessel. (engines will not be stooped
unless the man in the water is in danger from the propeller.)
 Figure (Williamson turn)

 Point ‘A’– man overboard

 Rudder hard over to swing stern away from man.
 Release lifebuoy.
 Sound ‘emergency stations’
 Engines on stand-by and reduce speed
 Point ‘B’ (60° off original course), reverse rudder to same angle in opposite direction to
reduce speed and return vessel to reciprocal course
 Point ‘C’– ship on reciprocal course
 ‘Steady’
 Slow ship, launch rescue boat to pick up man
 Subsequently sound general emergency stations, as soon as it is practical and the
Master should be informed of the situation
 Look-outs should point at the person in the water until he/she is picked up or lost to sight
 to display ‘O’ flag, and have a man ready to act as helms man, if navigating on automatic
pilot
  The emergency boat’s crew should stand by and be ready to launch the rescue boat to
effect recovery, weather permitting
 to stand by, and be prepared to transmit an urgency signal
 An efficient and effective watch should be maintained at all times
 A position should be noted on the chart as soon as possible after the alarm is raised.
 It is to prepare the hospital reception space. Advice may be needed for the treatment of
shock and hypothermia

The vessel’s speed should be reduced as the Williamson turn is completed, and the
following points considered:

 Whether to start a search pattern, from which point and at what time, and what type of
search pattern to use (probably sector search)
 Whether to let go a second bridge lifebuoy and combined smoke/light. If the second
lifebuoy is released when the vessel is on a reciprocal course, a reference line of search
can be established between the first and second lifebuoys.
 This would be of considerable help to a search vessel and would provide an initial rate of
drift over a greater area.
 However, when a second lifebuoy is released, the man in the water may assume that
this is the first lifebuoy to be released and swim towards it. In so doing, he ignores the
first buoy released and in confusion may drown through exhaustion while heading
towards the second.
 The sounding of ‘O’, ‘man overboard’, on the ship’s whistle, to alert other shipping and
reassure the man in the water that his predicament is known.
 Factors influencing a successful recovery comprise weather conditions, sea-water
temperature, day or night operation, experience of crew members, geographic location,
number of search units, time delay in the alarm being raised, and condition of the man
when falling.

It should noted that there are other search patterns can be performed/chosen by the OOW as
appropriate.