2. LEARNING OUTCOME
• Differentiate “immediate action”, “delayed action”, and “person missing”
situations
• Describe the single turn, Williamson turn, and Scharnow turn
maneuvers and explain situations in which each turn is appropriate
• Explain that standard maneuvers are not guarantee to return the ship
into its wake because of the effects of every ship characteristics and
environmental conditions on the ship and the person in the water
• Explain the sequence of actions to take when a person is seen to fall
overboard, or a report is received on the bridge
• Demonstrate ability to maneuver the vessel for the rescue of a person
overboard
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3. MAN OVERBOARD
"Man overboard!" is an exclamation given aboard a vessel to indicate
that a member of the crew or a passenger has fallen off of the ship into
the water and needs immediate rescue.
A major concern of maritime operations is recovering personnel who
have fallen overboard and safely transferring them from the water to
the deck of a boat or hatch of a lifeboat.
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4. MAN OVERBOARD
A “man overboard” emergency can arise at any time, in any maritime
work setting — the docks, a vessel in port, a vessel at sea, and
particularly, on an offshore drilling rig. A person can fall overboard for a
number of reasons, including:
Slippery decks Poor maintenance
Trip hazards Bad weather
Poor visibility Extreme wave swells
Getting struck by an object Inadequate safety training
Inadequate safety measures Human error
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5. MAN OVERBOARD
Once a person’s fallen overboard, it’s important that they be rescued as
soon as possible. The risks of drowning, hypothermia, exhaustion, and
attacks by hostile marine life, as well as the chances of being lost at sea,
increase the longer a person is in the water. Bone fractures, spinal
injuries, brain injuries, and other trauma injuries can result if the
person falls overboard onto a dock or other solid surface, or falls
overboard as a result of a vessel running aground.
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6. SITUATIONS
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
eyewitness and action is initiated with some delay.
3. Person missing action: The person is reported to the bridge is
missing
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7. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
- 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.
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8. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS: SHIP
MANEUVERS
Single Turn
1. Rudder hard over (in an
"immediate action" situation,
only to the side of the casualty)
.
2. After deviation from the
original course by 250º, rudder
to midship position and
stopping manoeuvre to be
initiated.
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9. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS: SHIP
MANEUVERS
Single Turn
Advantage
• Fastest recovery method
• Good for ships with tight turning
characteristics
Disadvantage
• Used most by ships with a considerable
power
• Very difficult for single screw vessel
• Difficult since the approach to the person
is not straight
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10. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS: SHIP
MANEUVERS
Williamson Turn
1. Rudder hard over (in an "immediate
action" situation, only to the side of the
casualty)
2. After deviation from the original course
by 60º, rudder hard over to the opposite
side.
3. When heading 20º short of opposite
course, rudder to midship position and
ship to be turned to opposite course
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11. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS: SHIP
MANEUVERS
Williamson Turn
Advantage
• Makes a good original track line
• Good in reduced visibility
• A simple manoeuvre
Disadvantage
• Takes the ship farther away from the
incident
• Slow procedure
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12. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS: SHIP
MANEUVERS
Scharnov Turn
1. 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).
2. After deviating from the original course by
about 240 degrees, shift the rudder hard
to the opposite side.
3. When about 20 degrees short of the
reciprocal course, put the rudder
amidships so that vessel will turn onto the
reciprocal course.
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13. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS: SHIP
MANEUVERS
Scharnov Turn
Advantage
• Will take the vessel back to her wake
• Less distance is covered , hence saves time
Disadvantage
• Cannot be used in an immediate action situation.
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