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.