Action in case of Man Overboard

• Executing a Williamson turn or other ship’s turn as appropriate;( wheel hard over to the side of casuality)
• Sounding the general or emergency squad alarm;
• Announcing the type of emergency over the public address system so that the rescue boat can be prepared;
• Assigning a person to the wheel and posting lookouts;
• Radar “marking” of the man overboard position;
• Initiating any communication such as a “Pan Pan Pan” message; and
• Positioning the ship to make a lee and launching the rescue boat.

Note:

• It should be remembered that it may take the master a few minutes to reach the bridge before he can take over the operation and that some decisions need to be taken before he reaches the bridge.
• The procedure on how to pull a person from the sea into a boat should, when possible, be practised during periods when a ship is at anchor.