What standard operating procedure should be followed during a man overboard situation?

In a man overboard situation, the priority is to ensure the safety and recovery of the person who has fallen overboard. Marking the position where the individual went into the water is crucial, as this helps in accurately guiding the rescue efforts. It allows the crew to know exactly where to return for a recovery operation, minimizing the time the person is in the water and increasing the chances of their safe retrieval.

Initiating recovery immediately after marking the position is essential. This can involve maneuvering the vessel safely back to the location, deploying rescue devices, or sending out crew members to assist in the recovery of the individual, all while maintaining situational awareness and communicating effectively with the rest of the crew.

The other choices would either hinder the recovery process or put the person at greater risk, as they do not align with standard operating procedures for dealing with a man overboard situation. For example, sailing away from the location would distance the vessel from the person in the water, making recovery significantly more difficult. Calling for air support is not typically the immediate response unless the situation is life-threatening and the vessel is not able to provide assistance. Resuming normal operations would completely disregard the urgent nature of the emergency and the need to focus on rescuing the individual over