Flotsam and Jetsam

Flotsam is cargo that falls off a ship. Jetsam is cargo that the crew throws off a ship. Why might a cargo ship drop or dump its cargo? – Storms – Onboard fires – Collisions – Flooding – ??

Famous Spills Nike Spill Tub Toy Spill Lego Spill Hockey Glove Spill Deadly and Dangerous Spills

The Nike Spill In 1990 during a storm, the Hansa Carrier, spilled 21 containers with 80,000 Nike shoes and work boots off the coast of Alaska. Over the next few years shoes washed ashore in Canada, Hawaii, Taiwan, China, Japan, and California. The shoes were floating in the North Pacific Gyre. Most of the left shoes ended up in a different location from the right shoes.

The Tub Toy Spill In 1992, 29,000 plastic turtles, ducks, beavers, and frogs spilled into the North Pacific. The toys floated North toward Alaska. Many made it to the Arctic ocean and on currents taking it around North America to the East Coast of the United States.

The Lego Spill In 1997, a powerful wave hit the Tokio Express, near England. 62 containers fell overboard. 5 million Lego pieces spilled into the ocean. Many pieces washed up in England but some floated into the Atlantic Gyre and reached Florida. Many pieces are still floating and are making there way through the Artic Ocean and around to Alaska and California.

The Hockey Glove Spill In 1997, the Hyundai Seattle, was sailing through a fierce storm. The engine room caught fire and the crew abandoned ship. Although the ship did not sink, much of its cargo spilled over the side. Much of the Hockey equipment washed up in Washington and California and finally Hawaii.

Deadly and Dangerous In 1997 the Santa Clara spilled 21 containers into the water near New Jersey. 4 of the containers were filled with Arsenic poison! Enough to poison half the United States. The government spent $4 million dollars to recover the containers…none of which opened into the ocean.

Flotsam and Jetsam Activity Managers: You will collect 2 items that have fallen off a cargo ship. As a team you must analyze your flotsam and trace the currents your items travelled on. As a team, complete the worksheet. Supervisors: Make sure your group stays on task and everyone participates!