Man falls overboard from your vessel – Actions you would take and Preferred Manouevre:
Initial Action:
- Throw a life-ring over the side as close to the person as possible.
- Sound three prolonged blast of ship’s whistle, hail “Person Overboard”.
- Commence recovery maneuver as indicated below.
- Note position, wind speed & direction, time.
- Inform master of vessel and engine-room.
- Post lookouts to keep the person in sight.
- Set off dye marker or smoke flare.
- Inform radio operator, keep updated on position.
- Stand by the engines.
- Prepare lifeboat for possible launching.
- Distribute portable VHF radios for communication between bridge, deck, and lifeboat.
- Rig pilot ladder to assist in recovery.
Standard Methods of Recovery –
Williamson Turn:

- Rudder hard over (in an “immediate action” situation, only to the side of the casualty)
- After deviation from the original course by 60O, rudder hard over to the opposite side.
- When heading 20O short of opposite course, rudder to mid-ship position and ship to be turned to opposite course.
Single Turn:

- Rudder hard over (in an “immediate action” situation, only to the side of the casualty) .
- After deviation from the original course by 250O, rudder to mid-ship position and stopping manoeuvre to be initiated.
Scharnow Turn:

- Rudder hard over.
- After deviation from the original course by 240O, rudder hard over to the opposite side.
- When heading 20O short of opposite course, rudder to mid-ship position so that ship will turn to opposite course.