Which action should be taken when no current vectors are observed moving with the SLDMB?

• A. Disregard the SLDMB drift.
• B. Use a random drift direction.
• C. Use the SLDMB drift as the current.
• D. Assume there is no current.

Answer: (C)

When you’re planning a search, the drift data from the SLDMB provide real-time, site-specific information about how the surface water is moving. Even if no current vectors are showing active movement with the buoy at that moment, you still use the SLDMB’s drift as the current because it represents the actual transport affecting objects at the surface during the drift period. Relying on this observed drift keeps your search area estimates grounded in what has happened rather than guessing or assuming no movement.

Disregarding the drift, picking a random direction, or assuming there’s no current would ignore the environmental forces at play and can lead to missing the target. Using the SLDMB drift as the current gives you the best available basis for forecasting where the casualty or debris may have traveled.