What situation does "wreckage adrift" imply?

"Wreckage adrift" specifically refers to debris that has been released from a damaged or sunken vessel and is now floating on the surface of the water. This terminology implies that the wreckage is not fully submerged, which aligns with the understanding that such debris can pose dangers to navigation or may indicate an incident involving that vessel. The term emphasizes the presence of remnants that are no longer part of a functioning ship and are instead scattered across the water, potentially hazardous to other marine traffic.