ONDECK
Academy
OOW Oral Prep
Module 05 — OOW 3000 GT Oral Preparation
What-If Emergencies
MOB · Collision · Grounding · Flooding · Steering Failure · Blackout · Fire · Receiving a Distress
The examiner will put you in the scenario. They want to hear structured, immediate thinking — not hesitation. Know the sequence: Immediate actions first, then call the Master, then assess and respond. Never reverse that order on a life-safety emergency.
Man Overboard
| Priority sequence |
|---|
| 1. Raise the alarm — shout "Man Overboard" and press the MOB button on GPS/ECDIS to mark position |
| 2. Post a lookout — dedicated person keeps eyes on the person in the water at all times. Never lose visual contact |
| 3. Throw lifebuoy with light and smoke — immediately, as close to the MOB as possible |
| 4. Call the Master — immediately |
| 5. Sound alarm / all hands — MOB signal: three long blasts on the ship's whistle |
| 6. Broadcast Mayday or Pan-Pan — Mayday if life in danger, Pan-Pan if serious but not immediately life-threatening |
| 7. Manoeuvre the vessel — Master will direct the turn and recovery |
| 8. Prepare rescue boat or swimmer — per vessel's SMS |
MOB Turns
- Williamson Turn: Hard over to the side of MOB → when 60° off course, hard over opposite → come back on reciprocal course. Good in restricted visibility — returns to original track
- Anderson Turn: Hard over to side of MOB → full circle back. Fastest — use in good visibility
- Scharnow Turn: Hard over → steady on 240° from original → hard over opposite → come back on reciprocal. Used when time has elapsed
Key Points
- Never lose visual contact — the lookout's job is solely to point at the MOB
- Press MOB on GPS the moment the alarm is raised
- Note time, position, course, speed, sea state
- Consider drift — wind and current will move the MOB
- Approach from downwind — control the recovery
- Have crew ready with recovery equipment before coming alongside
Collision
| Immediate actions |
|---|
| 1. Sound general alarm — all hands |
| 2. Call the Master to the bridge |
| 3. Send Mayday — position, vessel details, nature of emergency, number of persons on board |
| 4. Do not immediately separate the vessels — if embedded, the other vessel may be preventing flooding |
| 5. Close all watertight doors and hatches |
| 6. Muster crew and account for all persons |
| 7. Damage assessment — where is the damage, what is flooded, what is the rate of ingress |
| 8. Check stability — is the vessel developing a list, is she settling |
| 9. Offer assistance to the other vessel — render assistance if safe to do so (SOLAS obligation) |
| 10. Report to flag state, port authority, and owner |
DO NOT SEPARATE IMMEDIATELY: If the vessels are locked together, the other vessel may be acting as a plug. Assess flooding first before ordering engines astern.
Grounding
| Immediate actions |
|---|
| 1. Stop engines immediately |
| 2. Sound general alarm — call Master |
| 3. Send Mayday or Pan-Pan — assess severity first |
| 4. Sound all tanks and bilges — assess flooding and damage |
| 5. Check stability — note any list developing |
| 6. Note the state of the tide — is it ebbing or flooding? This determines urgency |
| 7. Do not attempt to motor off until flooding assessed — if hull is breached, motoring off may accelerate flooding |
| 8. Plot position accurately — determine extent of grounding and depth around the vessel |
| 9. Check for pollution — any oil or fuel discharge |
| 10. Consider salvage assistance if vessel cannot free herself |
TIDE STATE IS CRITICAL: If the tide is ebbing, the situation will worsen rapidly. If flooding, there may be time. Know this before deciding whether to attempt to free the vessel.
Flooding / Major Hull Damage
| Immediate actions |
|---|
| 1. Sound general alarm — all hands to emergency stations |
| 2. Call Master |
| 3. Close all watertight doors, hatches, and openings |
| 4. Identify the source and location of flooding |
| 5. Start bilge pumps and damage control pumps |
| 6. Attempt to stem the flooding — portable pumps, plugging, shoring |
| 7. Monitor stability continuously — note list and trim |
| 8. Send Mayday if vessel safety is in doubt |
| 9. Prepare LSA — lifejackets, liferafts, EPIRB |
| 10. Muster all persons and account for them |
Steering Failure
| Action sequence |
|---|
| 1. Switch to backup steering system — secondary hydraulic pump, second steering unit |
| 2. Call Master immediately |
| 3. Advise engine room — engines to standby, ready to use as steering |
| 4. Sound whistle signals — Not Under Command: two all-round red lights, or two blasts at intervals in visibility |
| 5. Broadcast warning to vessels in vicinity on VHF Ch 16 |
| 6. Transfer to emergency steering — aft steering position |
| 7. Communicate course requirements to emergency steering by telephone or radio |
| 8. Consider anchoring if in navigable depth and close to hazards |
EMERGENCY STEERING DRILLS: Every OOW must be familiar with the emergency steering position and procedure. The drill is required — knowing it only in theory is not enough.
Blackout / Total Power Failure
| Immediate actions |
|---|
| 1. Note the vessel's position, course, and speed at time of failure |
| 2. Call Master |
| 3. Verify emergency generator has started and emergency lighting is operational |
| 4. Check steering — emergency steering may still function on backup |
| 5. Display NUC lights / shapes — two all-round red lights |
| 6. Sound NUC signal on manual fog whistle if in restricted visibility |
| 7. Maintain lookout — binoculars, watch all round |
| 8. If in traffic — broadcast on portable VHF Ch 16, warn vessels of your situation |
| 9. Monitor vessel's movement — use hand bearing compass to check for drift |
| 10. Consider anchoring if in shallow enough water and drifting towards danger |
Fire at Sea — Bridge Actions
| Immediate actions |
|---|
| 1. Sound general alarm — seven short blasts + one long blast |
| 2. Call Master |
| 3. Send Mayday if vessel safety is threatened |
| 4. Alter course to put fire downwind — reduce fire spread |
| 5. Stop ventilation to the affected area — close dampers and fans |
| 6. Close fire and watertight doors |
| 7. Muster all persons — account for crew and guests |
| 8. Activate fixed fire suppression if engine room fire |
| 9. Deploy fire party with correct extinguishing agent |
| 10. Prepare LSA for evacuation if fire cannot be controlled |
Receiving a Distress Message SOLAS V Reg 33 / IAMSAR
SOLAS V Reg 33: The Master of any vessel at sea which receives a distress signal is obliged to proceed with all speed to the assistance of persons in distress. Failure to do so without reasonable cause is a criminal offence.
| Action |
|---|
| Acknowledge the distress on VHF Ch 16: "MAYDAY — [vessel name] — received your distress" |
| Plot the distressed vessel's position on the chart |
| Calculate course and speed — ETA at distress position |
| Inform the Master immediately |
| Contact MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) — report your intentions and ETA |
| Prepare vessel for SAR operations — prepare lifebuoys, recovery equipment, medical facilities |
| Monitor Ch 16 continuously for updated information and instructions from MRCC |
| Only abandon the SAR if released by MRCC or if own vessel's safety is in danger |
Oral Exam Practice Questions
Question 1
Man overboard — what are your immediate actions?
Shout man overboard, press MOB on the GPS. Post a dedicated lookout to keep eyes on the person — never lose visual contact. Throw the lifebuoy with light and smoke marker as close to the MOB as possible. Call the Master. Sound three prolonged blasts. Send Pan-Pan or Mayday on VHF Ch 16 with position. Prepare to manoeuvre — Master will direct the recovery turn. Prepare the rescue boat and recovery equipment.
Question 2
You have grounded. The tide is ebbing. What do you do?
Stop engines immediately. Sound the alarm and call the Master. Assess flooding — sound all bilges and tanks. If the tide is ebbing, the situation is deteriorating — I need to know the rate of tide fall and the depth of water around the vessel. Send Mayday immediately given the urgency. Check stability and note any list developing. Do not attempt to motor off until flooding is assessed — if the hull is breached, motoring off opens the wound. Consider lightening the vessel to reduce draught if time permits. Request salvage assistance.
Question 3
Steering fails in a busy traffic separation scheme. What do you do?
Switch to backup steering immediately. Call the Master and advise the engine room. Display NUC lights. Broadcast on VHF Ch 16 warning all vessels of my position and that I have lost steering. Transfer to emergency steering if backup fails. Use engines to maintain control if possible. If I am unable to steer clear of danger, consider anchoring. Contact the relevant VTS authority with my situation and position.
Question 4
You receive a Mayday. What are your obligations and actions?
Under SOLAS V Regulation 33, I am obliged to proceed with all speed to assist. I acknowledge the distress on Ch 16. Plot the distressed vessel's position. Calculate course and ETA. Call the Master immediately. Contact MRCC, report that I have heard the distress and give my position and ETA. Prepare the vessel for SAR — recovery equipment, medical facilities. Monitor Ch 16. I can only be released from my obligation by MRCC or if my own vessel's safety is threatened.