What is the meaning of drift in navigation?

• A. Forward motion due to engine power.
• B. Lateral movement of a vessel due to current and wind.
• C. Rotation of vessel around vertical axis.
• D. Vertical movement due to tides.

Answer: (B)

Drift in navigation is the vessel’s sideways movement caused by external forces like wind and current, which pushes the ship off its intended path even when propulsion is maintaining a steady forward motion. This means your track over the ground can differ from the heading you steer because the wind and water are doing part of the moving for you. For example, a cross current or crosswind can push the hull sideways, so you end up following a diagonal path instead of a straight line toward your target. The other ideas describe different things: propulsion-driven forward motion, turning the vessel around its vertical axis, or vertical movement from tides, none of which capture the sideways push that defines drift.