Differences between Flotsam and Jetsam
Comparison Article[edit]
In maritime law, flotsam, jetsam, lagan, and derelict are terms for property lost at sea.[1] Each term has a specific legal meaning that determines who can claim found items.[1] While often used together in common speech to mean "odds and ends", the distinctions are important for salvage and ownership rights.[2][3]
Flotsam and jetsam both refer to goods found floating on the water, but they differ in their origin.[2] Flotsam is wreckage or cargo that floats to the surface after a ship has wrecked or sunk accidentally.[2][4] Jetsam, by contrast, is goods that have been deliberately thrown overboard, often to lighten a ship in distress.[2][5] The term is related to the word "jettison".
The legal status of found items often depends on these classifications. Under maritime law, the original owner may reclaim their property if it is classified as flotsam.[2] The rules for jetsam can be more complex, but in some interpretations, it may be claimed by whoever finds it unless the original owner makes a proper claim.[1][2]
Two other terms, lagan and derelict, are also used. Lagan refers to goods that are thrown overboard and sink but are marked with a buoy or other floating object so that the owner can retrieve them later.[5] Derelict property is property that has been abandoned at sea by its owner with no hope of recovery.[1]
Key distinctions[edit]
| Feature | Flotsam | Jetsam | Lagan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Goods floating as a result of an accident or shipwreck.[2] | Goods intentionally thrown overboard (jettisoned).[2][5] | Goods intentionally thrown overboard and marked for recovery.[5] |
| Intent | Accidental loss. | Deliberately discarded, usually in an emergency.[2] | Deliberately discarded with intent to recover. |
| State | Floating on the surface.[1] | Floating on the surface.[1] | Sunk, but attached to a surface marker like a buoy.[5] |
| Ownership Claim | Original owner can reclaim the property.[2] | May be claimed by the finder if the owner does not make a claim.[2] | Belongs to the original owner who marked it for recovery.[5] |
Etymology[edit]
The terms have roots in medieval law and language. Flotsam comes from the Anglo-French word floteson, derived from the Old French floter, meaning "to float". Jetsam is a contracted form of the Middle English word jetteson, which comes from the Old French getaison, meaning "a throwing". These legal distinctions were established in English maritime law to handle the ownership of goods lost at sea. Over time, the combined phrase "flotsam and jetsam" entered common use to refer to miscellaneous refuse or homeless people.[3]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "wikipedia.org". Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 "noaa.gov". Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "dictionary.com". Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ↑ "uslegalforms.com". Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "uslegal.com". Retrieved November 14, 2025.
