What is the basic MOB (man overboard) response sequence?

• A. Shout, throw a flotation aid, keep sight of the person, alert others, and execute recovery per local procedure.
• B. Immediately swim to the person
• C. Turn off engine and wait for someone else to act
• D. Get back to shore and call base

Answer: (A)

In a man overboard situation, the priority is to act quickly to keep the person afloat and bring them back on board safely. The fastest, most effective sequence is to shout a clear alert to the crew so everyone knows someone is in the water, throw a flotation aid to the person to help them stay buoyant and visible, and then keep eyes on the person at all times to track their position and drift. At the same time, alert others for assistance and carry out the recovery according to the vessel’s local procedures, which coordinates the crew and ensures a controlled, safe return to the person. This approach minimizes the time to provide aid, maintains ongoing visibility of the casualty, and uses established, practiced steps to bring them back aboard.

Swimming to the person right away can exhaust you and cause you to lose sight or misjudge the recovery. Turning off the engine and waiting for someone else delays rescue and reduces the chance of a successful recovery. Returning to shore to call base abandons the casualty and introduces additional risk. The tested sequence is designed to act fast, stay organized, and follow the ship’s proven procedures.