When a man overboard is identified, what verbal cue should you broadcast?

When a man overboard is identified, what verbal cue should you broadcast?

• A. All hands
• B. Man overboard
• C. Rescue boat ready
• D. Emergency stop

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is giving an immediate, unambiguous alert about the specific emergency. When someone goes overboard, the quickest way to notify everyone on board and start the proper rescue actions is to broadcast the exact phrase “Man overboard.” This signal is universally understood on ships to trigger the MOB procedures—alerting all hands, maintaining sight of the person, and initiating the search and rescue sequence without delay. It clearly communicates the situation, unlike a general call for all hands, which doesn’t specify the emergency; and it’s not the right moment for phrases about launching a rescue boat or stopping operations, which come later once the MOB has been established and the plan is underway.

The key idea here is giving an immediate, unambiguous alert about the specific emergency. When someone goes overboard, the quickest way to notify everyone on board and start the proper rescue actions is to broadcast the exact phrase “Man overboard.” This signal is universally understood on ships to trigger the MOB procedures—alerting all hands, maintaining sight of the person, and initiating the search and rescue sequence without delay. It clearly communicates the situation, unlike a general call for all hands, which doesn’t specify the emergency; and it’s not the right moment for phrases about launching a rescue boat or stopping operations, which come later once the MOB has been established and the plan is underway.