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Jan 4, 2021 · Flotsam and jetsam are terms that describe two types of marine debris associated with vessels. Flotsam is defined as debris in the water that was not deliberately thrown overboard, often as a result from a shipwreck or accident.
In maritime law, flotsam, jetsam, lagan, and derelict are specific kinds of shipwreck. The words have specific nautical meanings, with legal consequences in the law of admiralty and marine salvage. [ 1] A shipwreck is defined as the remains of a ship that has been wrecked, whether it has sunk or is floating on the surface of the water.
There’s a simple mnemonic that helps distinguish flotsam from jetsam. Flotsam (or floatsome) are those items which are floating as a consequence of the action of the sea. Jetsam are those which have been jettisoned by a ship’s crew (although that may float too of course).
1. : floating wreckage of a ship or its cargo. broadly : floating debris. flotsam washed up by the tide. 2. a. : a floating population (as of emigrants or castaways) human flotsam. b. : miscellaneous or unimportant material. a notebook filled with flotsam and jetsam. c. : debris, remains. the village … built on the flotsam of war Stan Sesser.
Flotsam and jetsam are terms used under maritime law to describe floating debris, and the circumstances in which it was abandoned. “Flotsam” refers to debris that’s left behind unintentionally due to wreckage, and “jetsam” refers to items that are purposefully thrown overboard, to lighten the load.
Along with serving as the names of two villainous eels in Disney's animated classic The Little Mermaid, the phrase “flotsam and jetsam” is often used to describe the floating debris found...
Flotsam literally meant “wreckage or cargo that remains afloat after a ship has sunk.” Jetsam meant “goods thrown overboard from a ship in danger of sinking in order to give it more buoyancy.”
What's the difference between Flotsam and Jetsam? Flotsam and jetsam are marine debris found in the oceans of the world. The difference between jetsam and flotsam is related to whether the debris was thrown into the sea deliberately or was involuntarily cast into sea.
phrase. You can use flotsam and jetsam to refer to small or unimportant items that are found together, especially ones that have no connection with each other. ...cornflake packets, bottles, and all the flotsam and jetsam of the kitchen. [+ of] ...flotsam and jetsam on the beach. See full dictionary entry for flotsam.
Apr 22, 2024 · Flotsam” and “jetsam” are commonly used in Admiralty law to signify objects linked with shipwrecks or maritime salvage operations. The common misconception is that they refer to junk and debris found on the ocean’s surface.