If you see a person overboard, what should you do? How to inform the crew (practically)?

The first thing to do if you see someone go overboard is shout "MAN OVERBOARD" as loud as you can along with a port (left) or starboard (right) location. You need to keep your eyes on the victim at all times and scream. Keep yelling until you get a response that someone else has heard you. As soon as the shout is relayed to the captain, he should shut down the engines or drop sail immediately.

 

Abandon the ship

1. What should you do in case you hear the signal ‘Abandon ship’?

In case of abandon ship alarm I must arrive at the lifeboat deck.

I must act according to orders.

I must help to uncover the boat.

Then I screw the drain plug, release hand-rails.

Lower a lifeboat on water.

Only after the order of the Master or his deputy I may abandon the ship.

 

 

Life-saving appliances

 

What life-rafts do you know?

Approved by SOLAS there are liferafts of throw overboard type, davit launched type & large liferafts without any protective canopy.

Davit launched rafts are launched with the help of a special mechanism – davit and they are required when the embarkation level exceeds 4.5 m above lightest seagoing condition of the vessel.
In case of overboard thrown rafts, the container with liferaft should be thrown overboard and a special painter line should be attached to the vessel. On a normal cargo ship, with lifeboats, they are of 'throw overboard' type.

 

What should be there in a life-raft?

Sea anchor	Food ration in airtight packages	Hand pump only for liferafts

Flash Light (torch), whistle	Leak stoppers (plugs) only for liferafts	Fresh water in watertight receptacles

Anti-seasickness tablets	Heliograph	Instruction (manual) for survival

Bailer	Rescue Quoit	Paddles (set of 2) for liferaft

First aid kit	Fishing tackle	Knife

Tin opener	Radar reflector	Smoke signals, parachute rockets and hand flares

 

What equipment can we find in a rescue boat?

buoyant oars	buoyant bailer	compass
sea anchor	radar reflector	first aid kit
knife	rescue quoit	watertight flashlight
spare set of batteries	whistle	searchlight
thermal protective aid	safety boat-hook	bucket

 

 

What food ration should be in a life boat?

It should be purified water for immediate use in special watertight package.
Food ration which is solid or it can be mixed with water.

 

Why do we need life-rings?

In a case of man overboard we need a life ring. A number of life rings (life buoys) depends on the ships length, are positioned around the ship, hooked on the handrails. Attached to these buoys are a floating smoke light and a light signal.