Question 1

A crew member falls overboard. List the correct sequence of IMMEDIATE actions.

Accepted Answer

Immediately throw a lifebuoy, shout man overboard, post a dedicated lookout, press the GPS MOB button, note compass bearing, then commence recovery manoeuvre.. MOB IMMEDIATE SEQUENCE: 1. THROW LIFEBUOY, immediately, without hesitation. Marks position, gives something to hold. 2. SHOUT 'Man Overboard'. 3. POST LOOKOUT, one person keeps eyes on the casualty continuously. NEVER take eyes off. 4. GPS MOB BUTTON, records position. 5. NOTE COMPASS BEARING to casualty. THEN: commence recovery manoeuvre, alert crew, consider Pan-Pan. The lifebuoy goes in the water first, before anything else.

Question 2

A crew member goes overboard at night without being noticed for several minutes. What special challenges does this create?

Accepted Answer

Delayed detection increases position uncertainty; darkness hinders visual spotting; the casualty may drift; the GPS MOB waypoint records the vessel’s position when activated.. Delayed detection at night makes locating and recovering the casualty much harder. A GPS MOB waypoint normally records the vessel’s position when activated, not the casualty’s water-entry position or subsequent position. Reconstruct the likely entry position using the vessel’s track and timing, and consider drift due to wind and current. Post lookouts, use searchlights appropriately and listen for shouts or whistles. A casualty’s light or distress beacon may aid location, depending on the equipment carried and available receiving equipment. A Williamson turn can help return the vessel to its reciprocal track after delayed detection, but the manoeuvre and search must suit the circumstances. An unrecovered person overboard at night is in grave and imminent danger: transmit a Mayday promptly while taking appropriate search and recovery action, rather than waiting several minutes to send a Pan-Pan.

Question 3

A horseshoe lifebuoy is thrown to a MOB casualty. What are its limitations compared to a standard lifebuoy?

Accepted Answer

Horseshoes need correct orientation and conscious fitting around waist or shoulders; incapacitated casualties cannot fit them, whereas circular buoys provide handholds at any point.. HORSESHOE vs CIRCULAR BUOY: HORSESHOE: designed to be placed around the waist/under the armpits. Advantage: wearable, keeps conscious casualty supported. Disadvantage: an unconscious or incapacitated casualty cannot orient and fit it. CIRCULAR (ring) BUOY: can be held from any direction, easier for a distressed casualty to grab and hold. Many vessels carry BOTH: the horseshoe for a conscious casualty needing sustained support, the ring buoy as the first throw for immediate buoyancy. Throw the ring first, then the horseshoe if needed.

MOB, questions and explanations

A crew member falls overboard. List the correct sequence of IMMEDIATE actions.

A crew member goes overboard at night without being noticed for several minutes. What special challenges does this create?

A horseshoe lifebuoy is thrown to a MOB casualty. What are its limitations compared to a standard lifebuoy?

Practise this properly

MOB, questions and explanations

Questions

A crew member falls overboard. List the correct sequence of IMMEDIATE actions.

A crew member goes overboard at night without being noticed for several minutes. What special challenges does this create?

A horseshoe lifebuoy is thrown to a MOB casualty. What are its limitations compared to a standard lifebuoy?

Practise this properly