NEXT GEN Marine

MAN OVERBOARD Prevention & Recovery 2017 Workshop Review

31.05.2017

Workshop lead John Haynes opened the day saying that, ‘Expectations, requirements and capabilities are changing for many maritime organizations. High profile roles are evolving in UK, European and international waters.'

He added, 'Challenges may be changing and the use of technology increasing, but safety still remains high on the agenda for professional mariners.’

Over 80 maritime professionals attended two unique one day events focused on the sub IMO / sub 80 feet sector in Southampton UK this April. The fast moving and dynamic Man Overboard Prevention & Recovery Workshop brought together an international group of experts armed with the latest knowledge to identify problems that affect the maritime sector worldwide.

Click on blue links below for further Presentation information

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigates marine accidents involving UK vessels worldwide and all vessels in UK territorial waters. Inevitably, the MAIB have man overboard (MOB) accidents to investigate, many from commercial fishing vessels, but the lessons from these extrapolate easily to the small commercial sector. The presentation by Captain Andrew Moll, Deputy Chief Inspector of the MAIB highlighted specific lessons learned from recent incidents that are relevant to all maritime sectors.

Captain Don Cockrill, Secretary General of the UK Maritime Pilots Association went on to consider the issues related to ‘Man Overboard around Ships, Workboats and Port Support Vessels’. Maritime Pilots are required to board and safely navigate vessels into and out of most ports around the world. The size of modern ships has increased, plus movements of the ship and the pilot cutter in heavy seas can be the equivalent of an elevator going up and down between floors in seconds. Unimpeded spilt second judgment is often required. This presentation looked at the potential suitability of the numerous workboats and support vessels operating in the modern port for locating and recovering a casualty in the water.

Every pilot’s nightmare is to fall off the ladder whilst boarding. Although such incidents are fortunately very rare, when it does happen there are lessons to be learned by everyone involved – including the casualty. In February 2011 Captain Jon Stafford, an experienced Pilot with the Port of London Authority fell from a pilot ladder 6 miles off Margate while boarding a cargo ship at night. He recounted this MOB incident to help others, ‘I remember looking down to check whether I was falling onto the cutter or into the sea. Fortunately the cutter had moved clear of the ship and was running parallel, close to the ship’s side. I knew then that I wasn’t going to suffer serious injury from falling onto the cutter, but I was going into the icy North Sea in February between the ship and the cutter. As I hit the water my first thoughts were the propellers of first the cutter and then the ship. When I resurfaced I was at the stern of the pilot cutter but the water flow was pushing me hard up against the ship’s side and I knew that it was taking me towards the ship’s propeller.’ He estimated that he passed within a metre of the propeller. Once he had survived that close encounter the cutter crew had to locate him in the dark and get him back onboard.

At this point it was highly relevant to hear from William Mills, HM Coastguard Maritime Operations Controller on how an MOB rescue evolves. Search and rescue (SAR) skills require a unique mix of experience, local knowledge and digital technology. This is linked with sophisticated communications between land, sea and air assets.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman of Clipper Ventures was the first person to sail single handed and non-stop around the world between June 1968 and April 1969. Amongst numerous sailing achievements he co-skippered ‘Enza New Zealand’ with the late Peter Blake to take the Jules Verne Trophy in 1994 for the fastest circumnavigation of the world. The 11th edition of the Clipper around the world yacht race starts later this year and will involve more than 700 crew on board twelve 70 foot yachts which comply with the MCA’s rules for commercially operated yachts. Sir Robin discussed actual incidents on the open ocean, the lessons learned and applied to prevent people falling over the side, finding them quickly in poor conditions and their recovery on board.

Maritime medical solutions consultant, Paul Savage of Saviour Global Solutions is Chairman of the UK Search and Rescue Medical Group which shapes the future and direction of UK SAR medicine. Drawing on nearly 30 years of search and rescue service with the RNLI and HM Coastguard, combined with the very latest medical research, he explained the detail of what actually happens to the human body’s physiology when immersed or submersed in cold water. His presentation titled, ‘7 Ways To Die In Cold Water’ highlighted crucial factors that can help survival.

Next MOB Workshop in Southampton UK:

MAN OVERBOARD Prevention & Recovery 17 April 2018 >

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