Sustainable Power in Maritime Emergencies: Developing A Wave Energy Converter for Life Rafts

Abstract

This paper presents the design and analysis of a wave energy converter (WEC) developed to power emergency life rafts sustainably. Traditional rafts depend on finite batteries, limiting the operational time of critical navigation and signalling equipment. The proposed system harnesses ocean wave energy to provide continuous, renewable power, directly addressing this limitation. The design prioritizes compactness, durability, and ease of deployment for small-scale applications. Through experimental testing, the equipment demonstrated the ability to generate sufficient electricity under moderate wave conditions to recharge onboard batteries. The results, showing an average energy conversion efficiency of 2.44%, confirm that this WEC technology can significantly enhance maritime survival rates by enabling the prolonged operation of essential devices. It offers a reliable, low-maintenance power source for equipment such as GPS, EPIRBs, and radios in open-water emergencies.