Flotsam • Popular & Full

Cargo or equipment deliberately thrown overboard (jettisoned) to lighten a ship in distress. Legally, jetsam typically remains the property of the original owner.

refers to debris or cargo that remains floating on the water's surface after a ship has sunk or been wrecked. While often grouped with its counterpart, "jetsam," flotsam is legally distinct because it was not deliberately discarded; it is the accidental byproduct of a maritime disaster. Maritime & Legal Context Flotsam

Artists like Jim Olarte use "flotsam assemblages" to transform found marine detritus into professional sculptures and macramé. Popular Culture and Gaming Flotsam

In maritime law, the distinction between these terms determines ownership rights: Flotsam

The concept has inspired various creative works, most notably: