General Average Principle

The General Average principle is a maritime law concept where, in a shared voyage, if a deliberate sacrifice (like jettisoning cargo or damaging part of the ship) is made to save the vessel and remaining cargo during an emergency, the loss is shared proportionally among all parties involved—shipowners, cargo owners, and insurers. This ensures that no single party bears the entire burden of sacrifices made for the collective safety. Essentially, it's a fair way to distribute the costs of unexpected sacrifices necessary to protect the entire voyage.