What Should You Always Do When a Person Falls Overboard?

Even on a small boat, overboard accidents at sea can be incredibly dangerous. Due to things like low water temperatures, unpredictable weather conditions, and other hazards, when a person on a boat falls overboard, their life can quickly be put at risk. On cruises, things can become even more difficult.

Falling overboard is a serious emergency that can, unfortunately, happen on any cruise. The person in the water is at risk of drowning, getting hurt, or drifting away before help arrives. Because of these dangers, it’s important to know how to respond.

So, what should you always do when a person falls overboard? Keep reading to learn about the next steps to take and how cruise lines are expected to respond in these emergencies.

Key Takeaways

• Immediately after a passenger falls overboard, you should alert the crew through a distress call.
• Cruise lines have a responsibility to keep passengers safe. If they fail to do so,  the company may be held accountable for any accident.
• Losing a loved one in a fall-overboard accident is heartbreaking. During this difficult time, speaking with an experienced lawyer can help you understand your rights to seek justice and financial relief.

What Should You Do When a Person Falls Overboard?

When someone falls overboard on a cruise, immediate action is important. Any time wasted could increase the danger in an already life-threatening situation. To respond quickly, here's what to do when a person falls overboard on a cruise ship:

1. Shout Man Overboard

   As soon as you see someone fall overboard, alert everyone by loudly shouting, “man overboard.” This is a distress call that alerts the crew about an emergency and lets them know that someone has fallen over . The crew may then use the marine VHF radio to broadcast the situation and request assistance from nearby ships or rescue authorities if needed.

   
   

2. Keep Your Eyes on the Person

   After alerting the crew that a person has fallen overboard, it’s important to remain calm and maintain constant visual contact with them. You can do this yourself or assign someone to watch the person in the water.

   Losing sight of them, especially in rough conditions, can make rescue even more difficult.

   
   

3. Throw a Flotation Device

   Rather than trying to jump in to rescue the victim, throw a flotation device, such as a life jacket or a life ring, toward the person overboard. On most ships, the life rings are attached to the railings along the deck and are easy to grab.

   If the flotation device isn’t close by, someone else should keep their eyes on the person in the water while you quickly retrieve the nearest flotation device. This gives the person something to hold onto and makes it easier for rescuers to locate them.

   
   

Preventing Overboard Accidents

For small boats, preventing overboard accidents primarily involves keeping the boat balanced and taking any necessary boater safety courses. While passengers may not have control over the movement of the ship, there are steps they can take to prevent overboard accidents.

While cruise ships are designed with safety in mind, accidents can still happen if precautions aren’t taken. Knowing the most common risks and following simple safety steps can help protect both passengers and crew. Here are steps you can take to prevent someone from falling overboard:

Wear Life Jackets in High-Risk Areas

On cruise ships, passengers should wear a properly fitting life jacket when near open decks, pools, or during rough weather. Ships should also have flotation devices readily available to provide extra safety if someone goes overboard. These boating safety tips can help everyone stay safe during the cruise.

Listen to the Crew and Follow Safety Rules

Crew members are trained to manage emergencies, including overboard incidents. It's important to pay attention to safety briefings, take any boating safety courses required onboard, follow all crew instructions, and participate in drills.

Walk Carefully on Deck

Slippery floors, wet surfaces, and sudden ship movements can increase the risk of falling overboard. While moving on the ship, always hold onto railings, wear non-slip shoes, and avoid running or leaning over the edges.

Liability for Cruise Ship Overboard Accidents

Cruise lines have a responsibility to keep passengers safe. This means they must do everything they can to prevent someone from falling overboard and act quickly if it happens.

If a cruise line fails to provide proper safety measures, such as life jackets, trained crew members, or overboard detection systems, and someone is injured or dies as a result, the company may be legally liable.

How Cruise Lines Respond to Overboard Accidents

1. Take Immediate Action – Just like passengers, crew members on board should attempt to throw safety devices to the person in the water while also maintaining visual contact.
2. Contact Emergency Responders and Rescue Teams – The cruise ship will contact the appropriate rescue authorities depending on the location of the accident.
3. Carefully Move Towards the Victim – Once someone is overboard, the captain steers the ship slowly towards the person to make rescue efforts easier. The ship is steered in a way that prevents waves or propellers from harming the person.
4. Retrieve the Person – When the ship or another rescue vessel is close enough to slowly pull alongside, trained crew members can use life slings, rope ladders, small boats, or other equipment to pull the person slowly onto the ship. If the person is unconscious, injured, or too weak to climb, the crew members can help lift the victim onboard.
5. Provide Medical Attention – Once the person is on board, the ship’s medical team should check them right away for injuries, hypothermia, or shock. In case of any emergency, the doctors onboard will provide professional medical attention as quickly as possible.

What To Do in the Aftermath of a Man Overboard Accident

When someone falls overboard from a cruise ship, the sad reality is that most victims don't survive. In these tragic situations, family members often face confusion and stress, not knowing what steps to take next. Nothing can make up for the loss you’ve suffered, but compensation can help make up for the financial strain, and justice may offer solace. If you plan to take legal action in response to your loss, one of the first things you should do is contact a cruise ship accident lawyer.

A lawyer can explain your legal options, help you understand your rights, and make sure deadlines are met under maritime law. Your lawyer can also investigate whether the cruise line may have been negligent, and guide you through the process of filing a claim or lawsuit if necessary.

Work With an Experienced Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer

Falling overboard can be prevented if the right safety measures are taken. But sometimes, even with these measures, accidents still happen. If your loved one tragically lost their life or sustained a cruise ship injury, you may be able to seek justice and financial support.

When cruise line negligence leads to passenger or crew overboard accidents, they should be held accountable. Speaking with an experienced cruise ship lawyer like those at the Law Office of Louis A. Vucci P.A. can help. Your lawyer can review whether the cruise line’s overboard response was handled properly and explain your legal options. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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