From the very time a man falls over, till he is recovered back on board, every second counts. Every wrong action taken or an inappropriate decision you make, the results can be catastrophic, so as a prudent navigator it’s more than necessary to know the steps to be taken when this godforsaken Man overboard emergency arrives.
Three scenarios:
- Immediate action: The person overboard is noticed from the bridge and action is taken immediately
- Delayed action: The person is reported to the bridge by an eye witness and action is initiated with some delay.
- Person missing action: The person is reported to the bridge is missing
Factors that affects recovery
Always remember the rule number #1 is to stay calm and remember the word CALMER:
C : Capability of your engine plant
A : Assistance from crew and other vessels around
L : Limitations by weather; visibility, sea state, currents
M : Manoeuvring characteristics of your vessel
E : Experience of crew and level of training
R : Recovery method to be used.
Immediate action
- Mark and note the position
- Throw life ring to the person
- Sound three prolonged blasts on the ship’s whistle
- Note wind speed and direction
- Inform master
- Post lookouts
- Stand by engines
- Inform other vessels in vicinity
- Prepare recovery equipment
- Establish communication between bridge, deck and rescue boat.
Standard Recovery methods
1. Williamson Turn%22%20transform%3D%22translate(.7%20.7)%20scale(1.36328)%22%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23cacaca%22%20cx%3D%2230%22%20cy%3D%2272%22%20rx%3D%2217%22%20ry%3D%2227%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23cecece%22%20d%3D%22M82.8%20110l6.7%2011-58.3%2035-6.7-11z%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20d%3D%22M-16%20237L165%2035l-16%20236z%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23d4d4d4%22%20d%3D%22M28%2036h13v22H28z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Advantages:
- Makes a good original track line
- Good in reduced visibility
- A simple manoeuvre
Disadvantages:
- Takes the ship farther away from the incident
- Slow procedure
Execution:
- Put the rudder over full toward the pers
on (e.g., if the person fell over the starboard side, put the rudder over starboard full). - After deviating from the original course by about 60 degrees, shift the rudder full to the opposite side.
- When heading about 20 degrees short of the reciprocal, put the rudder amidships so that vessel will turn onto the reciprocal course.
- Bring the vessel upwind of the person, stop the vessel in the water with the person alongside, well forward of the propellers
2. Anderson Turn (Single turn)%22%20transform%3D%22translate(.5%20.5)%22%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23cecece%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(-68.41437%2040.35804%20-11.93958%20-20.2398%20133.4%20188.3)%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23d3d3d3%22%20d%3D%22M-16%20176L26%2020l9%20117z%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23d1d1d1%22%20cx%3D%2213%22%20cy%3D%2260%22%20rx%3D%2229%22%20ry%3D%2221%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23d9d9d9%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(24.569%202.59341%20-4.90647%2046.48205%2099%20212)%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Advantages:
- Fastest recovery method
- Good for ships with tight turning characteristics
Disadvantages:
- Used most by ships with a considerable power
- Very difficult for single screw vessel
- Difficult since the approach to the person is not straight
Execution:
- Put the rudder over full towards the person (e.g., if the person fell over the starboard side, put the rudder over full to starboard).
- When clear of the person, go all ahead full, still using the full rudder.
- After deviating from the original course by about 250 degrees (about 2/3 of a complete circle), back the engines 2/3 or full.
- Stop the engines when the target point is 15 degrees off the bow. Ease the rudder and back the engines as required.
3. Scharnov Turn%22%20transform%3D%22translate(.6%20.6)%20scale(1.1289)%22%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23c9c9c9%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(13.71574%202.40732%20-5.68583%2032.39504%2041%20175.4)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23cecece%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(8.0403%2011.50143%20-27.61068%2019.30179%20112.6%20114.1)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20cx%3D%2273%22%20cy%3D%2260%22%20rx%3D%2259%22%20ry%3D%2259%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20d%3D%22M192%2052L4%20254l188%2010z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Advantages:
- Will take the vessel back to her wake
- Less distance is covered , hence saves time
Disadvantages:
- Cannot be used in an immediate action situation.
Execution:
- Put the rudder over hard towards the person (e.g., if the person fell over the starboard side, put the rudder over hard to starboard).
- After deviating from the original course by about 240 degrees, shift the rudder hard to the opposite side.
- When about 20 degrees short of the reciprocal course, put the rudder amidships so that vessel will turn onto the reciprocal course.
[…] drifting buoy into the water to simulate a person in distress. The navigation team then performed a Williamson turn to retrieve the buoy and bring it back on […]