One of the most frightening and most dangerous situations a sailor can encounter in both professional and recreational settings involves a passenger falling off the vessel and into the water. This scenario is often described as a “man overboard” situation. Individuals who spend extensive time on the water or who have recently purchased their own boat should perform man overboard drills and take other steps to prepare themselves to effectively respond to this situation.
After an individual has fallen overboard, anyone who witnessed the incident should loudly and clearly announce the situation to the rest of the crew. At this point the boat’s engines should be stopped. At least one member of the crew should remain stationed on the side of the boat where the individual fell overboard and, to the best of their ability, maintain eyes on the person in the water.
If possible, the captain or another crew member should activate the “Man Overboard” button on a GPS or Chartplotter device. Similarly, vessels with a VHF radio should lift the RED safety cover from the “Distress” button and hold the button for about four seconds. At the same time, a crew member should announce the boat’s name and situation as part of a VHF 16 mayday call. If there is an approximate location emergency services providers can follow, it should be provided in the mayday call.
As these processes are unfolding, the rest of the crew should be accessing the vessel’s man overboard ring and line, or a comparable device, such as a Lifesling Overboard Rescue System. These devices should be deployed once the victim is located and when in range. The vessel’s captain should circle the victim in order to draw the float and line closer, and then to pull the victim back to the boat.
As the victim is pulled back to the vessel, crew members should let down the swim ladder. Depending on the severity of the fall and water conditions, the victim may need assistance to climb out of the water. For larger vessels, crews may need to rig a block and tackle or a sailboat boom and winch to hoist the victim up to the deck.
Once the individual is back on board the vessel, sailors should provide blankets and help the person warm up. At this point the captain can communicate via VHF 16 that the rescue was successful, and determine what additional steps need to be taken depending on the victim’s condition.
Clearly, a number of actions must be taken in order to effectively respond to a man overboard situation, many of which require operational knowledge of several specialized pieces of equipment and technology. Furthermore, time is not a luxury while performing these activities. A general rule of thumb maintains that a man overboard situation should be considered critical or life threatening after 15 minutes. This ticking clock underscores the importance of adequate boat safety training.
One of the most basic and effective elements of boat safety training involves the wearing of life preservers at all times while on deck, a practice that not only helps victims stay above water after falling overboard, but makes it easier for the crew and captain to locate and monitor the victim’s position.
After an individual has fallen overboard, anyone who witnessed the incident should loudly and clearly announce the situation to the rest of the crew. At this point the boat’s engines should be stopped. At least one member of the crew should remain stationed on the side of the boat where the individual fell overboard and, to the best of their ability, maintain eyes on the person in the water.
If possible, the captain or another crew member should activate the “Man Overboard” button on a GPS or Chartplotter device. Similarly, vessels with a VHF radio should lift the RED safety cover from the “Distress” button and hold the button for about four seconds. At the same time, a crew member should announce the boat’s name and situation as part of a VHF 16 mayday call. If there is an approximate location emergency services providers can follow, it should be provided in the mayday call.
As these processes are unfolding, the rest of the crew should be accessing the vessel’s man overboard ring and line, or a comparable device, such as a Lifesling Overboard Rescue System. These devices should be deployed once the victim is located and when in range. The vessel’s captain should circle the victim in order to draw the float and line closer, and then to pull the victim back to the boat.
As the victim is pulled back to the vessel, crew members should let down the swim ladder. Depending on the severity of the fall and water conditions, the victim may need assistance to climb out of the water. For larger vessels, crews may need to rig a block and tackle or a sailboat boom and winch to hoist the victim up to the deck.
Once the individual is back on board the vessel, sailors should provide blankets and help the person warm up. At this point the captain can communicate via VHF 16 that the rescue was successful, and determine what additional steps need to be taken depending on the victim’s condition.
Clearly, a number of actions must be taken in order to effectively respond to a man overboard situation, many of which require operational knowledge of several specialized pieces of equipment and technology. Furthermore, time is not a luxury while performing these activities. A general rule of thumb maintains that a man overboard situation should be considered critical or life threatening after 15 minutes. This ticking clock underscores the importance of adequate boat safety training.
One of the most basic and effective elements of boat safety training involves the wearing of life preservers at all times while on deck, a practice that not only helps victims stay above water after falling overboard, but makes it easier for the crew and captain to locate and monitor the victim’s position.
