MAN OVERBOARD - One of the most gut turning things for any mariner is the sound of man overboard. Before assuming the watch or for that matter even before getting underway you should think in your own mind what actions you would take. The proper actions to be taken in the event of a man overboard depend on alot factors, including the following:
1. The individual officer's experience and preferences for recovery techniques
2. The ship's maneuvering characteristics (single-screw, double-screw,
turning radius, etc)
3. The status of the engine room
4. The side on which the ready life boat is rigged
5. The visibility
6. The wind direction and sea state
7. The proximity of other ships
8. The ship's location with respect to hazards to navigation
Depending on the circumstances, there are several methods you can use. Several routine actions are taken immediately when a man is reported overboard.
One or more, preferably more, life rings should be thrown over at once. If a little presence of mind is exercised here, it is often possible to throw one of these very close to the man and, if possible, between the man and the ship. At the first alarm, a number of people ( instructed through drills, etc.) go topside to try to keep the man in sight, and as quickly as possible a mate or able seaman tracks the man with a pair of binoculars.
The ordinary life ring is so small that the man in the water cannot see it, and it is of little or no assistance to the lookouts who are trying to keep him in sight. This is a serious and can be fatal. It is well to keep a number of these small life rings about the deck to be thrown overboard on the instant by anyone who may be near them, but in addition there should be available packets of sea dye marker for daytime use and battery-operated water lights for night time. This are necessary to serve as markers not only for the man but to keep his spot in sight from the ship.
Whatever the recovery method you use, while the ship is maneuvering to approach the man, the boat crew should be readying the boat to be put in the water as soon as the ship has slowed. In most sea conditions, a boat may be lowered with reasonable safety from a ship at a speed of 4 - 5 knots.
The boat in search of the man is guided by signals or hand held radios, from the lookouts topside, provided they have kept the man in sight. Failing this, the boat cannot go far wrong if it goes back on a course opposite the original heading of the ship (down the ship's wake).In weather too heavy to permit lowering a boat, the one method that can give hope of saving a man is to attempt to pick him up directly from the ship itself. Crew should be standing by with heaving lines and additional life rings. In addition, the use of cargo nets over the side, attended by strong swimmers wearing immersion suits with safety lines attached, can be of great help. Ships may use several different methods to approach a man in the water to pick him up directly or with a boat. The main thing in a man overboard situation is to get the person back, and it really dosn't matter how. Here are some methods you could use.
1. Williamson Turn
2. Anderson Turn (Round Turn)
3. Race Track
4. Scharnow Turn
