Question 517 Deck Safety

The correct answer is C) You will be on a reciprocal course and nearly on the track-line run during the night. The Williamson turn is a standard maneuver used in man overboard situations to quickly return the vessel to the approximate location where the person fell overboard. By executing a Williamson turn, the vessel will be on a reciprocal course, meaning it will be heading back in the opposite direction it was traveling. This allows the vessel to quickly retrace its path and search the area where the person was last seen, maximizing the chances of locating and rescuing the individual. The other answer choices are incorrect because: A) while the Williamson turn does enable a quick reversal of course, that is not its primary advantage in a man overboard situation; B) the Williamson turn does not necessarily provide the maximum search coverage, but rather focuses the search on the last known location; and D) the Williamson turn does not provide extra time for maneuvering, but rather allows the vessel to quickly return to the person's likely location.