SECURITY AND SAFETY

BOUTAKOFF MANOEUVRE

The Boutakoff Manoeuvre is used when there is a man overboard.

It is mainly used to manoeuvre the ship to the point where the person fell overboard, without the use of positioning instruments and the person cannot be seen.

This method is mainly used by large vessels that cannot easily stop or make a half turn rapidly.

Procedure

Note your course, the time and the log.
Change course 70 degrees to starboard or to port.
Once you are on the new course (initial course plus 70 degrees), put the rudder hard aboard on the opposite side until you reach 180 degrees of your initial course.

NOTE

Depending on the type of ship and on the current, you may have to steer your original course plus 70 degrees for a certain amount of time. It is good to make some trials in advance.

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