Plan for Recovery of Persons from the Water

Matters to be considered when developing plans and procedures

According toMSC.1/Circ.1447 the following should be considered:

• A risk assessment should be conducted and documented when developing plansand procedures for recovery of persons from the water, including equipment intended to beused, taking into account the anticipated conditions and ship-specific characteristics.
• The recovery plans and procedures should facilitate the transfer of persons from thewater to the ship while minimizing the risk of injury from impact with the ship’s side or other structures, including the recovery appliance itself.
• To the extent practicable, recovery procedures should provide for recovery ofpersons in a horizontal or near-horizontal (“deck-chair”) position. Recovery in a verticalposition should be avoided whenever possible as it risks cardiac arrest in hypothermic casualties (refer to the Guide for cold water survival (MSC.1/Circ.1185/Rev.1)).
• If carried, dedicated recovery equipment should be clearly marked with themaximum number of persons it can accommodate, based on a weight of 82.5 kg per person.
• Recovery operations should be conducted at a position clear of the ship’s propellers and, as far as practicable, within the ship’s parallel mid-body section.
• A source of illumination and, where required, a source of power should be available for the area where the recovery operation is conducted.
• Ship-specific procedures for the recovery of persons from the water should specify the anticipated conditions under which a recovery operation may be conducted without causing undue hazard to the ship and the ship’s crew, taking into account, but not limited to:
  1. manoeuvrability of the ship;.
  2. freeboard of the ship;.
  3. points on the ship to which casualties may be recovered;.
  4. characteristics and limitations of equipment intended to be used forrecovery operations;.
  5. available crew and personal protective equipment (PPE);.
  6. wind force, direction and spray;.
  7. significant wave height (Hs);.
  8. period of waves;.
  9. swell; and.
  10. safety of navigation.

Further guidance for preparing the plans and procedures is provided in the following circulars:

• MSC.1/Circ.1447 – Guidelines for the Development of Plans and Procedures for Recovery of Persons from the Water
• MSC.1/Circ.1182 – Guide to Recovery Techniques
• MSC.1/Circ.1185/Rev.1. – Guide for Cold Water Survival
• IAMSAR Manual – International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual Volume I, II, III

Guide for cold water survival

How to increase your chance to survival when entering water

How to improve your chances of survival when abandoning ship

Major International Lifesaving Agreement to Help Prevent Drownin

Recovery of persons from the water