Flotsam and Jetsam

• Flotsam and Jetsam are legal terms relating to wreckage in Maritime Law.
• Lagan and Derelict are also legal terms relating to wreckage.

The Terms

• Flotsam:
  • The wreckage of a ship or its cargo which was not deliberately thrown overboard and is floating. Flotsam may be claimed by the original owner.

• Jetsam:
  • The wreckage that is washed ashore, such as ship’s parts or ship’s cargo which has been deliberately jettisoned overboard by a ship in distress to help save itself. Jetsam may be claimed as the property of the Finder.

• Lagan:
  • The wreckage or cargo of a ship which is found lying on the sea bed and which can be reclaimed.

• Derelict:
  • The abandoned cargo of a ship lying on the seabed which cannot be reclaimed.