Research on drift trajectories of typical marine search and rescue objects based on wind-wave-current coupled experiments

Accurate prediction of marine object drift is essential for effective search-and-rescue operations; however, existing models frequently oversimplify the effects of waves, particularly in terms of swell interactions. This study investigates the coupled influence of wind, waves, and currents on drift dynamics through scaled experiments conducted in a hydrodynamic basin equipped with synchronized environmental control systems. Ultra-wideband technology was used to analyze the drift trajectories of five objects—debris, fishing boat, life raft, vertical dummy, and horizontal dummy—under varying wind directions (−60° to 0°) and wave angles (−30° to 30°). The results indicate that waves substantially affect drift velocities and deflection angles. A comparative analysis with the AP98 Leeway model reveals significant discrepancies (average deviations exceeding 6.0 m) when wave effects are disregarded, especially for fishing boats. The study underscores the importance of integrating wave-driven forces, directional spreading, and object geometry into drift models, offering experimental benchmarks to enhance predictive accuracy in multi-physics marine environments. Key findings suggest that incorporating wave-induced drift velocities and object-specific hydrodynamic parameters can improve trajectory prediction accuracy. This work provides empirical benchmarks for refining search-and-rescue models, emphasizing the critical need to account for multidirectional wave interactions in operational frameworks for marine safety and pollution response.