NavalPerson overboard: The monthly drill, run on board as if it were a real emergency (night)
The monthly drill, run on board as if it were a real emergency. It happens at night. A crewmember falls overboard from a commercial fishing vessel. You throw the ring buoy, keep the person in sight, launch the rescue boat with a crewmember ready on a safety line and, if the person is not found right away, make the distress call to the Coast Guard and keep searching. It is the overboard procedure in the federal emergency instructions, and one of the contingencies every crew drills each month.
Free to startThis scenario
- The monthly drill, run on board as if it were a real emergency.
- It happens at night.
The steps
- Throw a ring life buoy as close to the person as possible.
- Post a lookout to keep the person in the water in sight.
- Launch the rescue boat and maneuver it to pick the person up.
- Have a crewmember put on a lifejacket or immersion suit, attach a safety line and stand by to jump in and help if needed.
- If the person is not located right away, turn on the radio and select VHF channel 16 (156.8 MHz), 2182 kHz or the distress frequency of the area.
- Say slowly, clearly and calmly: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is the vessel's name three times, over; listen, and repeat if no one answers.
- Give the position in latitude and longitude, or range and bearing from a known point, and the nature of the distress.
- Give the number of people on board and any injuries, how seaworthy the vessel is and a description of the vessel.
- Say which channel you will listen on, end with the vessel's name and call sign, and stand by the radio.
- Notify the other vessels nearby.
- Keep searching until the Coast Guard releases you.
Safety rules that stop the station
- Only someone trained in the procedures may run the drill or give the instruction.
- Channel 16 and 2182 kHz are for emergency and calling only.
To pass
- Every person on board drilled and instructed on recovering someone from the water at least once a month.
- The drill is run as if it were real: everyone takes part, the emergency equipment is broken out and used, alarms are tested and protective clothing and immersion suits are put on.
- A video with a guided discussion counts as instruction, never as the drill; anyone new gets the safety orientation before the vessel operates.
Official source
46 CFR Part 28: Requirements for Commercial Fishing Industry Vessels (28.265 Emergency instructions, 28.270 Instruction, drills, and safety orientation)
The eCFR publishes 46 CFR Part 28 free: the emergency instructions every commercial fishing vessel posts and the monthly drills.
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