Legal Definitions - jactura

Jactura is a legal term that refers to the act of throwing goods overboard from a ship to lighten the load or save the vessel. This is also known as jettison. The loss incurred from this action is called general average.

For example, if a ship is in danger of sinking due to excess weight, the crew may decide to jettison some of the cargo to save the ship and the rest of the goods. The value of the jettisoned goods is then shared among all parties involved in the voyage, including the ship owner, cargo owners, and insurers. This is known as general average.