Man Overboard/ Onboard Recovery Techniques

Man Overboard Lifting Techniques
– or how to get your man out of the water and back on the deck.
Terry Filmore
September 2009
Mylor Yacht Club
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
Man Overboard Lifting Techniques
– or how to get your man out of the water and back on the deck.
The proposal
Everybody who has been on an RYA sailing course will remember the essential drills practised
for recovery of a man overboard (MOB). However after getting him or her to the side, the actual
process of lifting the MOB back onto the boat, is usually taught via a cursory discussion of how
this may be achieved. Most people hope they will be able to achieve this feat but actually have
never really tried it and have only a theoretical idea of the process. So at the end of 2008 a small
group of MYC members began discussions of how we could actually run a training day that could
really put to the test some of the suggested methods of lifting that have emerged over the years, in
order to assess their viability and practicability, on the water. To do this would therefore require a
real live casualty to be actually in the water and be prepared to be dunked in and hauled out,
several times for demonstration purposes.
The planning of this new type of training event fell to our own very professional training team
and they organised a well run and highly successful day with mild and quiet weather on 5th
September. About 50 members had signed up to the course, which is a testament to the level of
interest, but because of the logistic and practicality aspects, it was more of an observation and
discussion session than a full “hands on” event. However the fact that everyone was in a position
to actually see the difficulties of the recovery methods for themselves, added greatly to the
learning process.
The event
The day commenced with a presentation by Phil Henessey in the clubhouse, where he outlined
the methods which, over time, it had been suggested were the most likely to succeed. There was
some discussion following this, largely because most people had an opinion about the viability of
each method but more importantly which was likely to be most effective on their own boat. The
two thorniest questions were: what if the man was unconscious, and what if there was only one
crew? Phil then outlined how we were going to run the event on the water. Essentially this
involved several spectator boats loaded with onlookers positioned around two anchored vessels
that would be the platforms for the recovery demonstrations, just off Trefussis Point. The two
boats were Simon and Lynne Fleming’s “Dolly” a 32ft Island Packet yacht, and Colin and Jill
Jones motorboat “Jemima”. We started with the Fire Brigade Marine Branch giving a demo of
how to haul MOBs from the water into a rib. This bore a strong resemblance to landing two large
wet codfish, but nonetheless emphasized that a lot of effort was needed to do it successfully even
with the two strong fire-fighter crew pulling vigorously!
Following the Fire Brigade demo, we then started on the main event. The two MOBs, (rather
than dummies, or maybe that is accurate!) suitably clad in essential drysuits took it in turns to
jump into the water, and then the rescue crews on each boat took turns to arrange the gear for
each recovery method and attempt to lift the man back on board. In reality we did the yacht
rescues first and then moved over the motorboat to try similar methods on that platform.
The results of the exercises were very enlightening so I will outline the method first, and then
consider the pluses and minuses.
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
The lifts
These first lifts assume the MOB is conscious, is secured beside the boat and able to assist.
1) The elevator lift :
The crew tie off a warp or a genoa sheet to a cleat at the bow and then lead it aft over the side into
the water forming a big loop (a catenary I think it is correctly referred to) and secured initially at
a sheet winch in the cockpit. A knotted rope is then attached to the boat above and in front of the
MOB for him to hold onto and to steady himself. The casualty then manoeuvres himself so he
uses the sunken sheet to stand on, the onboard crew uses the sheet winch to haul in the line, thus
allowing the MOB to be lifted up vertically whilst he holds onto the knotted rope.
Practicalities:
The MOB must be vertically positioned with legs at shoulder width to stand on the underwater
rope. Additionally the MOB must push downwards and outwards on the sunken rope from the
hull to maintain his balance.
Minuses:
Needs more than one person to arrange sheets and assist the MOB over the guardrail whilst other
is winching.
It is difficult for the MOB to “capture” the sunken sheet so he can stand on it.
Once the lift rope is near the toerail, the casualty is unable to shuffle his feet along the rope to
retain balance.
The shrouds impede the MOB getting over the guardrail.
It is very strenuous for the MOB to maintain position and balance.
Pluses:
We could not see any!
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
2) Boom lift with 6:1 purchase tackle and survival sling
The mainsheet is disconnected from the boom, which has at its end the top of a 6:1 tackle
shackled via a karabiner, with a survival sling attached to the tackle’s lower tail end. This
arrangement is then swung out over the side and the tackle extended down to the MOB who slips
the sling under his arms. The lower tail end of the tackle is then led back via a toerail snatch
block to a cockpit sheet winch. This allows a lift similar to a helicopter rescue technique.
Practicalities:
Boom must be as high as possible to lift casualty over the guardrail, and a preventer needs to be
arranged to stop the boom swinging. The MOB must keep the sling under his shoulder blades and
his arms down, to prevent the sling slipping up over his head.
Minuses:
Was deemed very difficult if not impossible with only one crew to help.
Boom preventer takes time to deploy and would be mandatory if the sea state resulted in the hull
rolling more than a few degrees.
Self tailing winch essential
Toerail snatch block important to reduce friction on the hauling-in line as it is led aft to the sheet
winch.
Pluses:
Works if enough crew available.
Is reasonably comfortable for the MOB in the lift.
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
3) 6:1 tackle lift on main halyard
In this method the main halyard or an available halyard roved at the rear of the mast was attached
to the 6:1 tackle. The lower end of this was then attached to the sling, This arrangement was then
let down to the MOB who put it over his head and then used it in one of 3 ways as described
below. However once again, the lower end of the tackle was led back via a toerail snatchblock to
a cockpit sheet winch for the crew to grind in the MOB.
i) Using the sling as a seat: here the MOB sat on the sling rather than under his arms.
ii) Using a proper bosun’s chair type seat-sling.
iii) Using a double sling – ie one as a seat, the other under the arms.
Practicalities:
Again the MOB needs to be told to keep his arms down to prevent slip-out.
Pluses:
All 3 options were quickly deployed.
Once lift underway, the MOB had his arms free to assist and balance better
Using the sling as a seat was the most successful and felt most secure but slightly more awkward
to get into.
MOB came on board quickly once the lift started.
Minuses:
In the double sling the casualty has to get the leg sling in position himself and that could be tricky
with a hypothermic person.
The double sling showed no real advantages over a sitting sling
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
Main halyard deployed with MOB in double sling. Note high attachment of upper block
The next 2 lifts were attempted with the MOB supine ( prone he would probably drown!)
as might be the case if unconscious or so hypothermic as to be unable to assist.
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
4) Sail lift with purchase on main halyard
This arrangement was similar to 3 in terms of deploying the main halyard and the block and
tackle except that the luff of a sail was secured along the toerail and the clew attached to the
lower end of the tackle. The belly of the sail was then allowed to sink into the water under the
MOB. The man was then “floated” into the sail, and the tackle used to winch the casualty
wrapped in the sail back on board.
Practicalities:
This takes a long time to deploy and the luff needs to be connected to the toerail at several points.
Minuses:
Difficult to guide the MOB into the sail’s belly if he is unconscious/can’t help.
The Crewman winching cannot see the MOB
If the sail is not connected to the toerail at several points, there is a risk of the casualty falling
between sail and boat.
The MOB gets squashed between sail and boat as the lift gets higher. Not only is this
uncomfortable for the person, but it also risks further injury.
Pluses:
None we could see.
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
5) Fence lift
We also tried an alternative arrangement to the sail lift using a length of orange plastic “roadwork
fence ” type netting in place of the sail.. This took a very long time to deploy, and needed to be
secured at many points either on its own spar, or to the toerail. The netting was also a long object
and would be too long for most boats. It needs two crew to set it up and the halyard needs to be
very high and purchase very long.
Finally it was difficult for the MOB to maintain a horizontal position, indeed on the second
attempt at this lift the casualty slid out back into the sea! We got into a tangle easily and in
extremis, the agreement was that this method was a non-starter
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
The last two lifts were done on the motor boat
6) Elevator lift using an electric winch
This arrangement was similar to method 1 on the yacht. A line was fixed to a cleat aft, and then
roved outboard below the water line and secured forward to the bow electric winch. The MOB
was instructed to stand on the sunken rope and the lifted upwards by operating the electric winch.
Pluses:
Relatively quick and easy to deploy
Minusses:
Due to the hull profile under the boat, the MOB’s legs kept floating under the boat making it
difficult to “capture” the rope under his feet.
Once the MOB could stand on the rope the position necessary to maintain balance meant
adopting a legs apart, body leant well forward position. This is more commonly known in
military circles as the interrogation position, except this was in water!! To say this was a
strenuous position is an understatement.
The balance necessary to achieve a satisfactory lift was possible but after all the lifts done this
day the MOBs were beginning to get tired but at least had a idea of how to balance on a rope. A
real MOB would have real difficulties.
7) 6:1 purchase lifting survival sling with MOB in sitting position
This arrangement was similar to method 3, and required the tackle to be secured high on the
boat’s superstructure and the hauling line led back to a cockpit winch aft.
Pluses
Easy and quick to deploy.
Allows to MOB to be raised relatively easily
Minuses
Again the underwater hull shape inhibited the ease of getting the MOB into the sling as his feet
floated under the hull again.
It may be difficult to get a purchase for the tackle high enough on some motorboats. In the case of
Jemima, she had a flying bridge which gave a high fixed purchase point.
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
Conclusions
From all our trials the most practical way of lifting the MOB if short handed, seemed to be
method 3, the main halyard/tackle lift. It has to be emphasized that the block and tackle 6:1
arrangement was ideal, in that it allowed even relatively slight female crew members to winch in
a 16 stone MOB with about as much effort as a genoa in a decent breeze. A 5:1 would probably
be OK for a lighter MOB, although requiring more effort, but we didn’t try it. All the other
methods had significant obstacles to a successful lift, but it needs to be stated that whereas these
methods either worked or not on Dolly and Jemima, on a boat with differing standing rigging and
more crew, some of the other methods would work OK as well. Getting an unconscious MOB
back on board is extremely difficult as we discovered. Whether the crew should wait for
helicopter or lifeboat assistance in this situation because of the demonstrable difficulties is a
matter for further discussion.
If you are towing a dinghy, one other obvious method of recovery not mentioned so far, is to get
the MOB into your dinghy, then haul that back to your stern and use a boarding ladder if you
have one.
As our spectators saw, all these methods of lifting have their good and bad points. There is no
doubt the remaining crew do face a significant challenge, which is getting the kit deployed and
the man back on board as quickly as possible. Depending on the method used, the MOB if
compos mentis, may be required to help with his own rescue. Given that our MOBs were in
drysuits and in relatively warm and sheltered waters, whereas a real MOB would be very cold and
frightened, the difficulties in reality would be significantly more exaggerated.
Finally I will spare you the usual exhortations about wearing a life jacket at all times and not
falling in, in the first place.
Major thanks for this thoroughly enlightening day must go to Penny Chuter, Phil Hennessy and
Chris Davies for running the day so effectively, Chris Ruberry and his Fire-Fighter RIB crew,
Simon and Lynne Fleming for the use of Dolly, Colin and Jill Jones for the use of Jemima and
finally all the spectators who sat patiently and watched two bedraggled MOBs being
unceremoniously dragged innumerable times out of the drink!!
Further photos below of equipment and some of the practical difficulties
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
Lifting sling attached to the 6:1 block and tackle
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
Man falling out of fence lift
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09
The sail lift : just about works, but the MOB nearly fell through gap between boat
and sail
Mylar Yacht Club
Terry Filmore, Sept.09