After tossing a life ring to a person who has fallen overboard, what is the next immediate step?

The next immediate step after tossing a life ring to a person who has fallen overboard is to call away Man Overboard (MOB). This action initiates a series of crucial procedures to ensure the safety of the individual in the water and to involve the entire crew in recovery efforts. The call away MOB informs all personnel of the emergency, prompting them to take necessary actions such as preparing for rescue, accounting for personnel, and executing pre-established emergency protocols.

This immediate response is vital because timely coordination can greatly increase the chances of successfully recovering the individual before they become more distressed or incapacitated. Proper communication and prompt action are essential in managing the situation efficiently and effectively.

While raising the Oscar flag, notifying Duty Admin, and contacting the Command Duty Officer (CDO) are important steps that may follow, they do not take precedence over directly acknowledging the emergency and activating the response procedures that calling away MOB initiates. This step lays the foundation for all subsequent actions related to the man overboard situation.