The document outlines various search patterns used for locating objects at sea including expanding square, sector, parallel, creeping line, and trackline searches. It also describes procedures for responding to a man overboard situation, such as deploying a floatation device, recording the location, alerting other vessels, approaching to recover the person from the leeward side of the boat, and making additional passes if needed.

1. SEARCH PATERNS
NBMTF

2. EXPANDING SQUARE
SECTOR SEARCH
PARALLEL SEARCH
CREEPING LINE SEARCH
TRACKLINE SEARCH
MAN OVERBOARD PROCEDURES

3. EXPANDING SQUARE, SINGLE UNIT
(SIERA SIERA)

4. A datum buoy is dropped at the best known
location of the search object
This buoy becomes the center of the search
area.
The first leg will begin from datum in the
direction of drift
All turns are to the right 90 degrees. The length
of the first leg is one track length; search leg
length is increased by one track space on every
other leg

5. Multiply your track space by the numbers shown
in the search pattern below to determine leg
length

6. A second search is performed by rotating the
pattern 45 degrees to the right

7. SECTOR SEARCH, SINGLE UNIT
(VICTOR SIERA)

8. A datum buoy is dropped at the best known location
of the search object.
This buoy becomes the center (datum) of the search
The first leg will begin from datum in the direction of
drift
All turns are to the right 120 degrees
On the third, sixth, and ninth legs steer to the datum
buoy
Once passed, return to the base course

10. In a second search the pattern is rotated
30 degrees to the right

11. PARRALLEL SEARCH, SINGLE UNIT (PAPA SIERA)
CREEPING LINE SEARCH, SINGLE UNIT (CHARLIE
SIERA)

12. A parallel search and a creeping line search are
conducted in the same manner; the difference
being that the tracks of a parallel search are
oriented parallel to the long side (major axis) of
the search area and the tracks of a creeping line
search are oriented parallel to the short side
(minor axis) of the search area.
All turns are 90 degrees, the pattern repeats until
the search area has been searched or until the
object is located.

14. TRACKLINE, SINGLE UNIT (TANGO SIERA)
TRACKLINE, SINGLE UNIT,
RETURN (TANGO SIERA ROMEO)

15. A trackline search follows the intended
track of the missing craft from origin to
destination
TRACKLINE, SINGLE UNIT (TANGO SIERA)

16. TRACKLINE, SINGLE UNIT, RETURN
(TANGO SIERA ROMEO)
A trackline return search follows a path adjacent to, and off
to one side of, the intended track of the missing craft from
origin to destination. Once at the missing craft’s intended
destination, the search continues back towards the missing
craft’s origin, following a path off to the opposite side of the
previous search line of the craft’s intended track

18. 1. Someone falls in the water
2. The first crewmember to observe the incident calls out
“MAN OVERBOARD” and follows the exclamation with
the side from which the event occurred or the person
was sighted; then maintains sight of and continuously
points to the individual in the water.
3. A crew member throws a ring buoy with strobe light over
the side as soon as possible after the alarm is sounded.
4. The vessel operator will perform the following tasks.
5. Turn the boat in the direction indicated by the alarm.
6. Record the position by pressing the man overboard
button on the GPS.
7. Sound 5 or more short blast on the horn to alert other
boats in the area.
8. Ensure that a floatation device has been deployed
MAN OVERBOARD PROCEDURES

19. 9. The pointer (usually the first person to see
the member go overboard) moves forward
near a pilothouse window, locates the
overboard and points to the location of the
person at all times. The recovery crew
member makes preparation for the pickup.
10.The vessel operator makes the recovery
approach and briefs the crew on the recovery
procedure including which side of the boat
the pickup will occur.
11.If additional assistance is required, notify Fire
Alarm and notify the Coast Guard and
request they broadcast a “PAN PAN”.

20. The preferred approached is performed with the bow facing
into the greatest force of oncoming resistance (usually the
wind but can be seas or current or a combination of the
three).
• Select the heading that will best ease the approach
(usually from downwind).
• Make the approach rapidly then slow the boat as it nears
the person
• Stop the boat with a short backing down burst when the
person is next to the recovery area.
• Place the transmissions in neutral and have a
crewmember make the recovery.
• If the boat overruns the person, do not attempt to
maneuver closer, swing around and make another
approach.
RECOVERING A PERSON IN THE WATER