NSST SPECIAL EVOLUTIONS
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
MODULE – MAN-OVBD MANEUVERS
REVISION DATE: 06 DECEMBER 2011
1
This page has been intentionally left blank.
2
BEST PRACTICES / SHIP INFORMATION SHEET
MODULE – MAN-OVBD MANEUVERS
STUDENT HANDOUT
Some Man Overboard best practices:
1. Positioning information is critical. Train your team to help you in this area:
how close is the life ring / smoke float / lifejacket / etc. to the man, how good
is the geographic position of the man plotted by the QMOW and/or CIC, who
topside truly has eyes on the man and can help you drive towards him, how
accurate is the position information that can be set into an electronic
navigation and/or ARPA display using the MOB function?
2. When a sailor is in the water, it is not the time to do training. Sharp
maneuvering is required to safely conclude a pick-up. Have the BMOW
quickly put the best available helmsman on the ship control console.
3. For a shipboard recovery, once you have completed the initial maneuvering
actions, start thinking about the wind. If you arrive at the desired pick-up
point with the wind anywhere close to the beam, the wind will definitely be a
factor. Always place the ship between the man and the wind which will allow
the wind to push the ship towards the man. It won’t work the other way.
4. For a continuous-turn (Anderson) maneuver, to help prevent turning too wide
and overshooting the man in the water, it is a good idea to stop the inboard
engine when approximately half-way to two-thirds of the way through the turn.
This will tighten your turn and begin to reduce the ship’s speed.
5. During the final approach phase of a shipboard recovery, a common mistake
is to misjudge the distance to the man and overshoot. As you begin this final
phase, a quick check of speed can be accomplished by looking straight down
from the bridge wing. Check the velocity of the water rushing by the hull.
6. Another common mistake is to stop turning too soon or too late. Manipulate
the rudder to steady the ship pointing directly at the man. A bit of lateral
offset (remember, put the ship upwind) can be applied during the final
adjustments.
7. Do not unintentionally make the problem worse. If “man overboard” is
reported at night or during heavy weather, the crew should be mustered at
foul-weather parade. The only personnel topside should be the minimum
number of people required to man rescue stations and/or small boat and boat
davit. This is a good training point for the BMOW (what word to pass / how to
instruct the crew).
8. The various MOB maneuvers all have a specific purpose, and positive and
negative aspects:
- Anderson (continuous) Turn. Returns the ship to the position of the
man in the water in the minimum amount of time, but requires the
greatest shiphandling skill. Usually the preferred method for surface
combatants and other very maneuverable ships that have adequate
height of eye on the bridge.
3
Williamson Turn. Used at night, in reduced visibility, or if the time
factor (time since man went overboard) is not known. A properly
executed turn will return the ship to its path, or close to the path made
good, on the opposite course. The key steps in executing the turn are
to maneuver the ship with full rudder at full speed and then shift the
rudder when the heading is 60 degrees off the original course. Then
steady on the reciprocal of the original course.
- Racetrack Turn. This is a modified version of the Anderson Turn that
can be used to provide a straight run-in during the final approach. This
turn can be used if time is not a critical factor and during daylight in
good weather. Additionally, towed array ships may designate this
maneuver in an MOB situation when the towed array sonar is
deployed.
- Y Backing Maneuver. This maneuver is used by ships that are not
very maneuverable and/or have a relatively low height of eye on the
bridge. If this method is properly executed, a relatively close distance
between the ship and the man in the water can be maintained.
- Boat Recovery. Recovering the man using a boat can be incorporated
into any of the maneuvering options. It is critical to steady the ship on
course at a safe speed for launching the small boat. Otherwise, the
MOB situation could be exacerbated.
9. Other MOB considerations:
- Use all assets that at your disposal including nearby ships that may be
in a good position to recover and/or nearby airborne helicopters.
- Sounding the ship’s whistle and displaying the Oscar flag by day and
MOB lights by night are used to alert other ships that you have a
person overboard. VHF or UHF radio circuits can also be used to
quickly provide information to other ships.
- Lookouts must be trained in the correct and rapid reporting of a man in
the water, as well as the proper use/deployment of lifesaving
equipment. The after lookout / lifebuoy watch is the last line of defense
(last hope) in an MOB situation. This point cannot be emphasized
enough in the training of lookouts and in the training of personnel on
what to do if they fall overboard (scream like crazy as the stern goes
by).
- The dumping of trash must always be properly supervised. A trash
bag thrown overboard from any point other than the fantail can easily
be mistaken for a person in the water, especially at night.
- Swim training and water survival training are critically important.
- The material condition of lifesaving equipment (life rings, strobe lights,
portable buoys, smoke floats, etc.) is critically important.
- The OOD and other bridge supervisors should always be thinking MOB
prevention by ensuring the weather decks are secured in heavy
weather and during hours of darkness.
-
4
Ship information (to be completed by the student):
What are the ship’s procedures for designating a ready lifeboat?
List by specific location (level / frame / side) the position of all topside lifesaving
gear:
5
STUDENT NOTETAKING GUIDE
MODULE – MAN-OVBD MANEUVERS
Initial Actions:
Swing the stern
Decide on recovery maneuver:
Actions of other team members:
Recovery maneuvers / turns:
Anderson Turn / continuous turn:
Williamson Turn:
Racetrack Turn:
Y backing maneuver:
6
Recovery / pick-up methods / considerations:
Wind:
Control of speed:
Forecastle recovery:
Other recovery methods:
Additional notes:
Safety considerations:
Muster of the crew:
Training and equipment notes:
Role of Aft Lookout:
Man overboard prevention:
7