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JETTISON Definition & Legal Meaning

Definition & Citations:

The act of throwing overboard from a vessel part of the cargo, in case of extreme danger, to lighten the ship. The same name is also given to the thing or things so cast out. Gray v. Wain, 2 Serg. & It. (Pa.) 254, 7 Am. Dec. 042; Butler v. Wildman, 3 Barn. & Aid. 320; Baruard v. Adams, 10 How. 303, 13 L. Ed. 417. A carrier by water may, when in case of extreme peril it is necessary for the safety of the ship or cargo, throw overboard, or otherwise sacrifice, any or all of the cargo or appurtenances of the ship. Throwing property overboard for such purpose is called “jettison,” and the loss incurred thereby is called a “general average loss.” Civil Code Cal.

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