Man overboard — onboard response

When a person falls into the water, the first 60 seconds determine whether they are recovered alive. This decision tree follows SOLAS Regulation V/33, the IAMSAR Manual Vol III search-and-rescue procedures, and the 2014 SOLAS III/17-1 recovery-of-persons amendment.

Immediate actions (0–60 seconds)

1. Shout "Man overboard — port / starboard!" loud and clear so the bridge hears the side. Keep eyes on the person in the water; do not look away.
2. Press the MOB button on the GPS/ECDIS or chart plotter immediately — this marks the datum waypoint. Note the time in UTC.
3. Throw a lifebuoy ring with self-igniting light and self-activating buoyant smoke signal toward the casualty. If a danbuoy is fitted, deploy it. SOLAS Reg III/7 requires these to be on the bridge wings instantly ready.
4. Sound three prolonged blasts on the ship's whistle (···). This is the international signal for MOB, alerts all crew, and notifies nearby vessels.
5. Broadcast "Man overboard, man overboard, man overboard" on the ship's PA. All off-watch crew muster at lifeboat/rescue boat stations.

Manoeuvring — choose the right turn

1. Anderson turn (fastest return): Person seen falling, good visibility. Hard over toward the side of MOB; when heading has altered 250°, steady on that course — you approach the datum from your outbound track. Suitable for single-screw and twin-screw. Estimated return time: 3–5 minutes.
2. Williamson turn (track-return): MOB not seen, restricted visibility, or night. Hard over to the side of loss; after 60° of turn, put rudder hard over the opposite way; steady on the reciprocal of the original course. Returns you exactly along your outbound track. Preferred in poor visibility because it eliminates positional error.
3. Scharnov turn (delayed): Significant time elapsed before alarm raised (MOB unknown how long ago). Hard over in same direction as Anderson; when heading differs from original course by 240°, rudder over opposite; steady on reciprocal. More accurate than Williamson when time has elapsed and datum has drifted.
4. Reduce speed to minimum steerage way on approach to casualty. Position the ship to windward as a windbreak; approach with the wind on the bow so the ship drifts down toward the casualty rather than over them.

Communications

1. Send DSC distress alert on VHF Ch 70 (156.525 MHz) selecting "Man overboard" as nature of distress. The DSC alert transmits ship ID (MMSI), position, and UTC time automatically.
2. Follow with MAYDAY voice call on VHF Ch 16: "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY — this is [ship name] [MMSI] — man overboard — position [Lat/Long] — [number] persons on board — [weather] — [ETA recovery]."
3. If offshore or MF range allows, transmit DSC on 2187.5 kHz simultaneously. SOLAS Reg IV/7.
4. Contact nearest MRCC (Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre) by voice on Ch 16 and confirm position, number of persons, weather, and whether rescue boat is deployed.
5. Post an additional visual lookout on the bow or bridge wings to maintain sight of the casualty during the manoeuvre.

Recovery — SOLAS III/17-1

1. Deploy rescue boat or fast rescue craft (FRC) in compliance with SOLAS Reg III/17-1. Crew must wear immersion suits. FRC coxswain takes command of on-water recovery; bridge coordinates from above.
2. If casualty is unconscious or unable to assist: use parbuckling technique — pass a rope under the casualty's armpits and roll them aboard with controlled hauling, keeping the spine horizontal. Never haul vertically by the arms if hypothermia is suspected.
3. If rescue boat is not available (ship lacks requirement): use Jacob's ladder, scramble net, or purpose-fitted MOB platform. At least two crew in the water wearing immersion suits to assist the casualty.
4. Document exact recovery time, position, and condition of casualty in the deck log and OOW log.

Hypothermia management — IMO MFAG

1. If the casualty was in the water and is shivering or unresponsive: assume hypothermia. Handle gently — rough handling of a hypothermic casualty can trigger ventricular fibrillation.
2. Remove wet clothing by cutting if necessary. Wrap in dry blankets; cover the head. Do not rub limbs — friction causes cold peripheral blood to return to the core rapidly.
3. Passive rewarming: warm space, dry insulating layers, warm sweet drinks if fully conscious and able to swallow.
4. Active external rewarming: chemical heat packs or warm (not hot) water bottles applied to the armpits, groin, and neck only — the high heat-loss zones. Do not apply directly to skin.
5. If cardiac arrest: commence CPR immediately regardless of apparent core temperature. Hypothermic patients have survived extended CPR. "Not dead until warm and dead" — continue until core temperature reaches 32°C or medical authority advises cessation. Consult IMO MFAG hypothermia chapter and call TMAS.
6. Request medevac if core temperature below 28°C, altered consciousness persists, or cardiac arrhythmia present. Contact nearest MRCC for helicopter or vessel diversion.

After the incident

1. Complete a detailed incident report within 24 hours: time of MOB, time of alarm, datum position, manoeuvre used, recovery time, condition of casualty, communications log.
2. Notify the flag-state administration and the Designated Person Ashore (DPA) per ISM Code Element 9.
3. Preserve all electronic records: GPS MOB mark, GMDSS log, AIS track, CCTV footage.
4. Report to the nearest MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch) or national equivalent if the incident resulted in serious injury or death.
5. Review and update the SMS procedure under SOLAS III/17-1 if any equipment or procedural gap was identified.

Sources: SOLAS Consolidated Edition 2020, Regulation V/33 (distress messages and distress signals), Regulation III/17-1 (recovery of persons from the water, 2014 amendment in force 2016); IAMSAR Manual Volume III (Mobile Facilities, 2022 edition), Section 3; IMO Medical First Aid Guide (MFAG) 3rd edition — hypothermia and immersion injury; COLREGs Rule 8 (action to avoid collision during recovery manoeuvre). See also Williamson turn, GMDSS, and SOLAS Chapter III lifesaving appliances.