In 2016, the Korean vessel Sun Peony was sailing smoothly from Thailand to Taiwan, carrying about 7,800 tons of liquid chemicals. But then, it was caught in a typhoon. The ship’s bow storage area was damaged by the rough waves, and seawater started flooding in. The crew urgently tried different ways to pump the water out, but nothing worked. As the front of the ship began to sink, the captain made a bold decision—to jettison the cargo.
Jettisoning is a maritime term that means throwing cargo to lighten the ship when it’s at risk of sinking.
About 370 tons of cargo were released into the sea, and gradually, the ship regained its balance. It was then able to reach its destination safely. By letting go of 370 tons, they saved not only the remaining 7,430 tons of cargo but also the lives of the crew and the ship itself.
There are times in life when we, too, need to let go. It may not be something tangible—it could be something within us. Letting go is never easy, but at times, it’s the wiser path to safeguard what truly matters.