What phrase indicates someone has fallen overboard?

• A. All hands on deck!
• B. Abandon ship!
• C. Man overboard!
• D. Mayday

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is the standard alert used at sea when a person has fallen into the water. When someone goes over the side, shouting “Man overboard!” immediately flags the specific emergency and triggers MOB procedures. This phrase is distinct and precise, so the crew knows to focus on locating and recovering the person, coordinating with the bridge, and initiating life-saving actions like throwing a float to the water and marking the last known position.

In contrast, “All hands on deck!” is a general muster call for everyone to come to the deck, not an emergency about someone in the water. “Abandon ship!” signals that the vessel is no longer safe to stay aboard. And “Mayday” is a radio distress signal indicating grave danger requiring broad assistance, not a specific person in the water.