Nautical Term: Jetsam
Definition of Jetsam
:Items that are deliberately jettisoned from a distressed vessel into the sea. These items can include cargo, ballast, or even machinery, and their jettisoning is intended to reduce the overall weight and buoyancy of the vessel, thus improving its chances of surviving or being rescued. Once jettisoned into the sea, these items become known as ‘jetsam’. In some cases, if the jettisoned items wash ashore, they may be salvaged and used again. The term ‘jetsam’ is often contrasted with the term ‘flotsam’, which refers to the items that float in the water after being jettisoned, lost, or discarded from a vessel.
Example: During a violent storm, the cargo ship ‘Seawolf’ was battered and relentlessly pummeled by towering waves. The crew, despite their best efforts to save the vessel, were unable to prevent the ship from succumbing to the onslaught of the storm. With the ship’s engine room and electrical systems inundated, the crew was forced to abandon the ‘Seawolf’ and jettison all of its cargo, including valuable timber,
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