Jetsam meaning

Goods or cargo intentionally jettisoned from a vessel in peril (for example, to avert foundering) and later found at sea or washed ashore. In maritime and admiralty practice, “jetsam” is treated as a category of “wreck” rather than ordinary lost property. The term is recognised in legislation: in the UK, the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 provides that “wreck includes jetsam, flotsam, lagan and derelict”; in Ireland, similar provisions appear in the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) legislation. Usage and legal effect are broadly consistent across England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Key features and practice points: - Ownership generally remains with the original owner unless abandoned; finders do not acquire title. - Anyone finding jetsam must report and deliver it to the Receiver of Wreck (or equivalent authority) under the applicable Merchant Shipping regime. Failure to report is an offence. - A salvor or finder may claim a salvage reward, assessed by reference to the value saved and the circumstances of the jettison. - If unclaimed after statutory processes, disposal follows the applicable wreck regime. Contrast with flotsam (goods lost by shipwreck without intentional jettison), lagan/ligan (goods marked or buoyed), and derelict (abandoned property).