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recovered if the lookout knows exactly what to do and
then does it without hesitation.
LIFE-BUOY WATCH
The life-buoy watch (usually the after lookout) is
a special watch which carries the responsibility for
detecting and reporting man-overboard incidents,
providing a life ring to the person in the water, and
marking the spot where the incident occurred. The
number of persons assigned to this watch and the loca-
tion of their stations will vary with different types of
ships. For example, on most ships the life-buoy watch
is assigned to the regular lookouts aft. The life-buoy
watch area assigned to a particular lookout includes
the decks of the ship and water area immediately
around the ship. This area must be kept under constant
surveillance to detect the first indication that a person
has fallen overboard. Binoculars should be used only
after initial detection of the person has been made. One
earpiece of your sound-powered phone headset must
be left off because the first indication of a person over-
board may be a shout or a splash. During conditions
of restricted visibility, this watch will be augmented
by one person who will be the sound-powered phone
talker.
LOOKOUT PROCEDURES
The life-buoy watch or anyone else who sees a
person fall overboard must shout as loudly as possible,
without hesitation, “MAN OVERBOARD, STAR-
BOARD (PORT) SIDE.” This call must be repeated
until the conning officer takes necessary action or
indicates in some way that the word has been received.
A life ring with a small lighted buoy attached
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