Editing Man overboard rescue turn (section)

{{Short description|Sailing maneuver on learning of a man overboard}}

A '''man overboard rescue turn''' (or person overboard)<ref name="SeamanshipNotes">{{cite book |last=Ferguson |first=Angus |date=2004 |title=Seamanship Notes |edition=Second |location=Livingston |publisher=Witherby Publishing Group |pages=71–72 |isbn=0953437965}}</ref> is a shiphandling manoeuvre usually implemented immediately upon learning of a [[man overboard|person having gone overboard]] into the sea. To bring a vessel closer to the person's location, implementations of the principles described are:  the '''Anderson turn''' (or single turn), the '''quick turn''' (also known as the '''Q-turn''' or the '''figure eight turn'''), the '''Williamson turn''', and the '''Scharnow turn'''.<ref name="SeamanshipNotes"/> 

The choice of manoeuvre is dependent on several factors, including:<ref name="SeamanshipNotes"/>

* Location of the casualty
* Whether the casualty is seen going overboard immediately or if their missing is delayed
* Whether the ship is using engines or using sails
* The space available for the vessel to steer
* The training of the crew involved.

Ideally, in any man overboard scenario, the casualty should be approached with the vessel downwind of the persons position, with the vessel moving upwind.<ref name="21stCentury">{{cite book |date=2015 |title=21st Century Seamanship |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Witherby Publishing Group |pages=1040–1041 |isbn=9781856096324}}</ref>

The man overboard rescue turn is often carried out as part of regular drills on [[merchant ships]] as a requirement of the [[SOLAS Convention]].<ref name="21stCentury"/>