Legal Definitions - logan

The term logan refers to the same concept as lagan.

Lagan describes goods, cargo, or wreckage that has been cast overboard from a ship, but which is marked with a buoy or other identifiable float so that it can be recovered later. Unlike "flotsam" (floating wreckage without a mark) or "jetsam" (goods thrown overboard to lighten a ship, also without a mark), items considered lagan still belong to their original owner and are not immediately considered lost or abandoned property.

• Example 1: During a severe storm, a large cargo ship loses several containers overboard. However, some of these containers are equipped with specialized GPS trackers and bright orange buoys designed to deploy upon impact with the water. The shipping company immediately logs their last known coordinates and plans a recovery operation.

  Explanation: These containers are considered lagan because, even though they are adrift, they are marked with buoys and tracking devices, indicating the owner's intent to retrieve them. They are not abandoned property and still belong to the shipping company or the original consignee.

• Example 2: A commercial fishing vessel encounters unexpected rough seas, and a section of its valuable crab pots, connected by a long line, breaks free and sinks. Before the pots sank, the crew had attached a distinctive, numbered buoy to the end of the line, which remains visible on the surface.

  Explanation: The lost crab pots constitute lagan. Despite being separated from the vessel and submerged, the attached, identifiable buoy serves as a marker, signifying the fishermen's ownership and their intention to locate and recover their gear.

• Example 3: While sailing in a busy channel, a yacht accidentally detaches its inflatable tender. The tender, however, is equipped with a small, brightly colored flag and a GPS-enabled float that activates upon submersion, transmitting its location to the yacht's navigation system.

  Explanation: The inflatable tender is an example of lagan. It was cast off (albeit accidentally) but is clearly marked with a flag and a GPS float, allowing the yacht owner to track and retrieve it. This marking distinguishes it from general debris and asserts continued ownership.