06/11/2025
At Maiden Voyage.... we say Person overboard 🙂
📰 Local Fisher Scolded for Yelling “Man Overboard” After Non-Binarist Falls Off Charter Boat
WEST COAST, NZ — A routine fishing trip off the rugged West Coast turned into a storm of controversy on Saturday after a deckhand shouted “Man overboard!” when a non-binary passenger fell from a charter vessel just north of the Greymouth.
The call — described by one witness as “clear, urgent, and tragically outdated” — drew swift action from crew members, and an even swifter response from the Department of Inclusive Fisheries (DIF).
“While the intent was noble, the terminology was exclusionary,” said DIF spokesperson Hugh Jorgan. “The preferred phrase is ‘Person in aqueous distress.’ It’s vital we modernise our distress vocabulary to reflect 2025 values.”
The overboard individual,Tim Tambikky, who identifies as non-binary, was pulled aboard within minutes — drenched but unharmed.
“I just wanted help, not to be misgendered mid-rescue,” Tambikky said. “It’s a reminder of how far the fishing industry still has to go.”
The fisherman who made the call, long-time local L*z Bian, said the backlash “caught him off guard.”
“I’ve spent 40 years yelling ‘man overboard’ and no one’s ever complained — probably because they were busy trying not to drown,” Bian told reporters.
“Next time I’ll just yell ‘someone’s gone for a bloody swim!’ and hope that’s woke enough.”
The Maritime Safety Authority confirmed it plans to issue new guidelines on inclusive distress language.
Approved alternatives reportedly include:
“Person overboard!”
“Individual experiencing buoyancy challenges!”
“Citizen in temporary aquatic difficulty!”
Local charter operator Eden Morecock said he supports inclusivity but hopes “common sense doesn’t get left at the dock.”
“At the end of the day, I don’t care what anyone yells — as long as someone jumps in after them,” he said.
DIF has also confirmed a new working group will review other “potentially gendered maritime expressions,” including “seaman,” “deckhand,” and “buoy.”
