Skip to main content

Man Overboard – Manoeuvers you need to know to save a life

 

Man Overboard – Manoeuvers you need to know to save a life

 

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:

  1. Immediate action:  The person overboard is noticed from the bridge and action is taken immediately
  2. Delayed action: The person is reported to the bridge by an eye witness and action is initiated with some delay.
  3. 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 Turnwilliamson turn

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:

  1. 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).
  2. After deviating from the original course by about 60 degrees, shift the rudder full to the opposite side.
  3. When heading about 20 degrees short of the reciprocal, put the rudder amidships so that vessel will turn onto the reciprocal course.
  4. 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)anderson turn

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:

  1. 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).
  2. When clear of the person, go all ahead full, still using the full rudder.
  3. After deviating from the original course by about 250 degrees (about 2/3 of a complete circle), back the engines 2/3 or full.
  4. 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 Scharnov turn

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.

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IAMSAR Search Pattern : Loren Turn

  IAMSAR Search Pattern : Loren Turn 👇  Loren turn IAMSAR Search Pattern Advantage: 1 Facilitate launch and recovery of rescue boat 2 Facilitate rescue work by other crafts 3 Circling calms the sea by disturbing wave patterns 4 The more turbulence created by ship the better 5 Additional ship circling windward will calm the seas furthur Loren turn Procedure: 1 Head into the wind at full speed 2 Begin the circle 3 Reduce to slow to when wind is abeam 4 When wind crosses stern to opposite quarter , increase to half speed 5 Continue circling as long as calm water is needed 6 Slow down or  stop , to lauch and recover rescue boat on leeward side, inside the circle. Note: It is important to know handling charactristic of your vessel. Depending upon ships handling criteria it may not be necessary to begin Loren turn head to wind.
Post a Comment
Read more

Ship Mooring & Various types of Moor

  MOORING: WHAT IS IT? & VARIOUS VESSEL MOORINGS   Tips for safe mooring operations Mooring and unmooring operations hide a number of risks for those who get involved, many times leading to a fatal accident or a collision; Thus, it is of a great importance when conducting any mooring operation to follow specific steps to ensure the safety of all those conducting the operation.   1 Use Appropriate Lines a. Choose based on size and operational requirements Choosing the ideal mooring lines depends on local factors such as the water depth, the tidal range and wave energy, as well as on the material the mooring lines are constructed from. The combination of both the material and the conditions where a vessel is to conduct its mooring operations, play a crucial role for the operation to be fruitful. When opting for the mooring line keep in mind the: Weight and diameter of the line in comparison to required strength. Elasticity of the m...
Post a Comment
Read more

IAMSAR Search Patterns

  IAMSAR Search Patterns IAMSAR Search Patterns Explanation with Sketches. EXPANDING SQUARE SEARCH : Expanding Square Search IAMSAR Search Patterns Most effective when the location of the search object is known within relatively close limits. The commence search point is always the Datum Position. To be used by a single ship during a search. Often appropriate for vessels or small boats to use when searching for persons in the water or other search objects with little or no leeway. Accurate navigation is required. The first leg is usually oriented directly into the wind to minimize navigational errors. All course alterations are of 90 O . Two first two legs will be of same length ‘d’. ‘d’ will depend upon the visibility and the height of eye of the lookouts and the swell and sea height. Legs 3 and 4 will be a length of 2d. Legs 5 and 6 will be a length of 3d. Legs 7 and 8 will be a length of 4d. SECTOR SEARCH :- Sector Search IAMSAR Search Pattern...
Post a Comment
Read more