What should the person who first notices a MOB do after alerting the operator?

• A. Keep the victim in sight and call out relative bearings and range.
• B. Post a lookout while you audit the engine logs.
• C. Return to the helm and pretend nothing happened.
• D. Immediately deploy a lifeboat.

Answer: (A)

When a person first notices a man overboard, the immediate priority is to keep sight of the casualty and communicate their position precisely. Keeping the MOB in view allows you to track how they drift with wind and current and to adjust the vessel’s course accordingly. Calling out relative bearings and range gives the operator and crew a clear, continuous reference frame to locate the person, even as the vessel maneuvers, slowing down or changing direction. This precise position information enables a coordinated rescue, helps set up an effective search pattern, and guides any rescue craft or onboard responders to the correct area quickly. The other options delay or complicate the rescue: focusing on other tasks or pretending nothing happened won’t help find or reach the person, and deploying a lifeboat isn’t a step to take without direction from the operator and proper procedures.