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CREW  OVERBOARD  PREVENTION    &  

 RECOVERY  

RON  TROSSBACH  

Crewoverboard  Rescue  Symposium  –Aug  9-­‐12  2005    

•  115  volunteers  •  400  COB  Recoveries  •  40  Items  of  gear  •  All  condi@ons  up  to  35  Knots  •  15  boats  (  3  pwr,  8  monohull,  3  mul@hull)  •  Numerous  rescue  methods  

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Some  Lessons  Learned  in  SF    •  Don’t  go  overboard!    Wear  a  Harness  &  PFD  •  No  one  maneuver  worked  for  every  boat    •  Quickstop  should  be  familiar  to  all  crews  •  Throw  Rope/Heaving  Line  works  quickly  •  Lifesling  is  simple,  flexible,  easily  pulled  on  deck/hoisted,  and  can  be  reused.    Excellent  track  record.    Requires  some  prac@ce  

•  Don’t  tow  the  vic@m  •  Throwables  o\en  miss  their  target    

RECENT  LESSONS  LEARNED  • BRIGHTER    LIGHT  •  LOUDER    WHISTLE  •  LEG    STRAPS  •  FACE    GUARDS  •  EPIRB    TOPSIDE  •  SHORTENED  JACKLINES  

•  SHORT    TETHERS  •  INFLATABLE  MAINTENANCE  

 

• PERSONAL  GEAR  IS  A  GOOD  IDEA  

• COMBO  PFD  &  HARNESS  

• PERSONAL  KNIFE    • PLBs/AIS  LOCATORS  •  INVERTED  PLANS  • PREVENTERS  • U  GO  AS  U  R  !  

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U  GO  AS  U  R  “It  is  USELESS    • IF  PLB  IS  NOT  WORN  • IF  SAFETY  GEAR  IS  NOT  ATTACHED  TO  PFD  

• IF  SAFETY  GEAR  IS  NOT  FITTED  PROPERLY”  

COB  CONSIDERATIONS  •  What  maneuver  ??  •  Change  helmsman  ??  •  Best  spoIer  ??  •  Ready  a  swimmer  ??  •  Searchlights  at  night  ??  •  PAN  PAN/MAYDAY  call  ??  •  Windward/Leeward  pickup  ??    •  Search  paIern  ??  

 

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Sample  Search  Plan  

COB  REFLEX  ACTIONS  •  Safe  return/contact  but  don’t  tow  PIW  •  Provide  floataUon/deploy  lifebuoy/MOM/??  •  Electronically  record  posiUon  (MOB  BuIon)  and  log  it  •  Assign  a  SpoIer  •  One  Person  in  Charge  •  Helmsman  starts  Quickstop  then  ????  •  Start  the  Engine  

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MOB    POLE    (MSR  61/66)  •  MOB  POLE  &  FLAG  •  LIFEBUOY  •  SELF-­‐IGNITING  LIGHT  •  WHISTLE  •  DROGUE  

• READY  FOR  INSTANT  USE  • “QUICK  RELEASE”  

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MOM  8A  

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MOM  9  

MOM  9  

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COB  USEFUL  GEAR  •  LIFESLING  and/or  THROW  ROPE  •  HALYARD/WINCH/  MARKED/  STOWED  /BLOCK  &  TACKLE  •  DSC  (DIGITAL  SELECTIVE  CALLING)  •  AIS  TRANSPONDER    •  BINOCULARS  •  INFRARED  NIGHT  OBSERVATION  DEVICE  (NOD)  

MOB/COB  SUMMARY  

• STAY  ABOARD  • WEAR  FLOATATION  • PRACTICE  RECOVERIES  

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STAY  ABOARD  

•  CMSR  REQUIRES  HARNESS  &  TETHER  •  CLIPPING  POINTS  &  JACKSTAYS    •  D/H  MUST  WEAR  AT  ALL  TIMES  &  BE  ATTACHED,  OUT  OF  THE  CABIN    •  USE  SAFE  PROCEDURES  

 

SAFE  PROCEDURES  •  WEAR  SHOES  •  ‘COCKPIT  RULE’  •  MOVE  ON  THE  HIGH  SIDE/CAT  LIKE  •  ONE  FOOT  ON  DECK/NO  JUMPING  •  KNOW  SAFE  AND  UNSAFE  PLACES  •  TETHER  ETIQUETTE  •  WATCH  COMPANIONWAY  HATCH  •  USE  A  BOOM  PREVENTER  

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MOB    SUMMARY  

• STAY  ABOARD  • WEAR  FLOATATION  • PRACTICE  RECOVERIES  

WEAR  FLOATATION      

§  “WHILE  ON  DECK  BETWEEN  SUNSET  AND  SUNRISE”  §  “AT  ALL  OTHER  TIMES,  UNLESS  THE  PERSON  IN  CHARGE  DIRECTS  THEY  BE  PUT  ASIDE”  

§  D/H  MUST  WEAR  AT  ALL  TIMES  WHEN  ON  DECK  (74)  

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MOB  SUMMARY  

• STAY  ABOARD  • WEAR  FLOATATION  • PRACTICE  RECOVERIES  

PRACTICE  RECOVERIES  

•  ANNUAL  MAN  OVERBOARD  PRACTICE      •  CERTIFICATE  SIGNED  BY  2/3  CREW  •  QUICK  STOP  IS  STRONGLY  REC’M  •  TRY  OTHER  MANEUVERS                        Deep  Beam  Reach                    Fast  Return                    Figure  8  

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PERSON  IN  THE  WATER  (PIW)  RECOVERY  

QUICKSTOP  

RECOVERY  

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PERSON  IN  THE  WATER    (PIW)  RECOVERY  

LIFESLING-­‐TYPE  

RECOVERY  

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“Reboarding  is  the  hard  part”  “The  consensus  of  observers  at  the  SF  event  was  that  the  

Lifesling  is  sUll  one  of  the  best  devices  for  making  contact  and  hoisUng  a  vicUm  aboard.”  

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MOB  Retrieval  Devices  •  “Have  a  plan  for  ge]ng  back  aboard  both  for  yourself  and  your  crew  members”  

•  Have  one  or  more  Throwable,  Rescue  Aid,  and  Reboarding  devices  aboard  and  KNOW  HOW  TO  USE  THEM.  

•  PRACTICE  with  every  item  aboard  

Fast  Boat  Issues  

•  Newer  genera@on  boats  cannot  handle  forces  when  rounding  up  from  a  reach  

•  Halyard  locks  do  not  allow  dousing  when  off-­‐axis  •  Sails  too  large  for  unplanned  dousing  •  Some  modern  rigs  cannot  take  the  loads  and  flogging  •  Time  and  distance  to  return  virtually  requires  COB  alarms    

•  Boiom  Line:  Crews  cannot  risk  falling  overboard  

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Fast  Boat  Solutions  •  MOB  buion  at  each  helm  –  ISAF  Req’d  •  Orderly  take-­‐downs,  then  return  •  Use  debris  field  to  calculate  dri\  •  Make  crew  visible      

•  Bright  small  flashlights  or  waterproof  headlight  •  Retroreflec@ve  patches  •  Electronic  homers  -­‐  AIS  PLBs  

Conclusions  •  Stay  close  to  the  vicOm  if  possible  •  PracOce  techniques  and  how  to  use  gear  

•  Customize  for  your  boat/situaOon  •  Have  a  command  structure  •  Educate  potenOal  ‘vicOms’  •  Use  alarms  and  carry  signals    •  PrevenOon  is  easier  than  rescue  

•  Harnesses/tethers,  foot  wear,  good  pracOces  

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PERSONALIZE  LIFESLING  

NAME  REF  TAPE  

KNOTS  

UV  COVER  

LOOP  

LIGHT  THIGH  STRAP  

ADJUST    TOWLINE    

BOWLINE  

LIFESLING  IN  PORT  DRILL  

Retrieval  Line  

Inside  rail    

Tied  to  Boat  

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Tied to deck

Block  10  a  above  deck  

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Lower  block  aIached  to  loop  

Tackle  line  to  winch    

Hoisted  above  upper  lifeline  

Turning  block  on  deck  

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LIFE  SLING  VIDEO  

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PERSONAL  SAFETY  EQUIPMENT  

   

* WHAT  DOES  A  WELL  PREPARED  SAILOR  

WEAR  ??????  

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WHAT  DOES  A  WELL  PREPARED  SAILOR  WEAR  ?  

Henry  Freeman,  1861,  sole  survivor  of    Whitby  Lifeboat  disaster  -­‐  pictured  in  early  cork  life  vest.  -­‐Picture  kindly  supplied  by  Sutcliffe  Gallery,  UK    

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•  Boat  Safety  Equipment  –  GPIRB  or  PLB  required  –  Life  Rafts  Strongly  Recommended  –  Mob  Poles  rigged  for  “Quick  Release”  

•  Personal  Safety  Equipment  –  Tethers  <  7ft  with  snap  hook  at  boat  end  and  quick  

release  shackle  at  harness  end  –  Accessible  Safety  Knife  carried  by  each  person  when  on  

deck  –  fixed  blade  or  open  with  1  hand  

MSR  CHANGES  FOR  2012  (1  of  2)  

*  Continuing  Sailor  Education  strongly  recm’d  -­‐30%    attend  US  Sanctioned  Sailing  Safety  at  Sea  Seminar  every    5  yrs  *  Minimum  Boat  Stability  –  ORR  “New  SI”  of  103  *  Safety  Inspections  *  Pre-­‐Race  of  selected  boats  *  Post-­‐Finish.    All  boats  should  plan  to  be  inspected  *  Additional  inspections.    All  entered  boats  subject  to    

MSR  CHANGES  FOR  2012  (2  of  2)  

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•  PFD    –  PFD  Equipment  

•  Harness  &  Tether  •  Knife  •  OPTIONS  

–  Flash  light  –  Personal  Locating  Beacon  (PLB)  –  Clothing  (foul  wx  gear,  layers,  wicking  materials)    

PERSONAL  SAFETY  EQUIPMENT  (required  for  each  person  aboard)  

*  Type  1  USCG  Approved  OR  Inflatable    (Yoke  or  Fannypack)  Fanny  packs  are  not  allowed  this  year  in  2013  Chicago  to  Mac  race  *  32  lb  buoyancy  *  Turn  over  unconscious  person  *  Compressed  gas  inflation  *  Regular  check  for  leaks  

*  Under  16  yrs  of  age    –  USCG  Approved  fitted  to  age  &  weight,  offshore  suitable  to  be  determined  by  Person-­‐in-­‐Charge  

 

PFD  (Personal  Floatation  Device)    

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•  Whistle  •  Waterproof  light  •  Retro-­‐reflective  tape  •  Boat  or  crew  member’s  name  •  Inspected  regularly  •  Options  

–  Upgraded  whistle  &  lights  –  Leg  Straps  –  Sprayhood/Face  Guard    –  Buddy  Strap  

PFD  Equipment  

•  >  7  ft  tether  •  Snap  Shackle  at  boat  end  •  Quick  release  shackle  at  harness  end  

–  Releasable  under  heavy  load  •  OPTIONS  

–  LEG  STRAPS  –  OVERLOAD  STITCH  –  ELASTIC    RETRACTION  –  MID  POINT  SNAP  HOOK  OR  SHORT  2  FT  TETHER  –  MANUFACTURED  JAN  2001  OR  AFTER  

Harness  &  Tether  

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*  FIXED  BLADE      OR  

*  FOLDING  -­‐  CAN  BE  OPENED  WITH  ONE  HAND  *  ATTACHED  TO  OR  CARRIED  WHEN  ON  DECK  *  READILY  ACCESSIBLE  *  WHILE  WEARING  FOULIES,  PFD,  and  HARNESS  

PERSONAL  SAFETY  KNIFE  

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*  WHILE  ON  DECK  FROM  SUNSET  TO  SUNRISE  *  AT  ALL  OTHER  TIMES,  UNLESS  THE  PERSON-­‐IN-­‐CHARGE  DIRECTS  THEY  MAY  BE  SET  ASIDE  

*  DOUBLE  HANDED    PFD  AT  ALL  TIMES  WHEN  ON  DECK  *  HARNESS  and  TETHER  ATTACHED  TO  BOAT  ALL  

TIMES  WHEN  OUT  OF  THE  CABIN.    

WEARING  OF  PFD’S  

• CROTCH  OR  THIGH  STRAPS  HIGHLY  RECOMMENDED  • “HOLDING  DOWN  DEVICE”  ON  PFDs  • “SHOULD  BE  STRONG  ENOUGH  TO  LIFT  SOMEONE  FROM  WATER”  ON  HARNESSES  • ADD-­‐ON  STRAPS  AVAILABLE  IN  CATALOGS  

LEG  STRAPS  

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• REQUIRED  ON  ISO  LIFEJACKETS  • HIGHLY  RECOMMENDED  BY  RAMBLER  100  CREW  • ADD-­‐ON  KITS  AVAILABLE  IN  CATALOGS  

FACE  GUARD/  SPRAYHOOD/  SPLASHGUARD  

• TELLS  SEARCH  &  RESCUE  FORCES  YOU  ARE  IN  TROUBLE  BUT  NOT  THE  BOATS  NEARBY    • BE  SURE  TO  INCLUDE  BOAT’S  NAME  ON  NOAA  REGISTRATION  FORM    • New  AIS  version  has  promise.    

PERSONAL  LOCATING  BEACONS  (PLBs)  

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Case  Study:  Mr.  John  Young  in  water    

*  Great Lakes *  31 hours in water *  Wearing blue and grey *  CG flew over him at

night on night vision goggles, but he had *  no illumination.

* You must be seen to be rescued.  

♣Chem Lights: * ♣Myth: Night vision goggles can’t see green chem lites * ♣Truth: CG NVGs can see any light of any color * ♣No maintenance & long-lasting * ♣Emergency light if power loss (eg: compass light) ♣Retro tape: * ♣No maintenance & long lasting * ♣It’s always there * ♣Works amazingly well

Chem Lights & Retro Tape    

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Can  You  See  Me?  

How  about  now?   * SEE/RESCUE® Streamer 25’ & 40’ long *Orange smoke flare would be similar but doesn’t last as long

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* LETS  REVIEW  THE  CLIPPER  VIDEO  

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ABANDON  SHIP  

Explorer’s Guide LLC68

Righting Overturned Life Raft - a capsized raft should be righted before the inverted canopy fills with seawater.

One person can easily right it using the following procedure:

EMERGENCY - Abandon Ship

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Explorer’s Guide LLC69

What’s in Your Ditch Bag? •  If you have to abandon ship you may have only 90

seconds. What are you taking?

Things  to  take    

•  If  Ume……………  •  Ditch  Bag  –  Already  prepared  •  Papers  •  Extra  water  •  Clothing  •  Glasses  •  Medicine      

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Sinking  of  Yacht  “CIAO”  January  2013  

•  Rudder  sheared  off  ,  hole  in  hull  •  They  could  not  stop  the  water  •  Very  calm  in  leaving  boat  •  PFDs  on  with  crotch  straps  •  EmoUons  very  high    

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April 12, 2014

} WRAP UP ◦  Summary Notes ◦  Practice, Practice, Practice ◦  Evaluations, Survey Monkey ◦  Thank Yous �  Staff �  Sponsors ◦  Door prizes

◦  US Sailing, Safety at Sea, Moderator ◦  Brian Adams ◦  brian-k-adams@att.net

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} "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."Benjamin Franklin

◦  US Sailing, Safety at Sea, Moderator ◦  Brian Adams ◦  brian-k-adams@att.net