Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    recaap isc

    ReCAAP ISC: No incident of piracy and armed robbery 19 – 25 September

    The Future of Maritime Safety 2023: 853 distress calls in 2022

    The Future of Maritime Safety 2023: 853 distress calls in 2022

    car carrier fire

    Bulk carrier suffers engine room fire in Sumatra, Indonesia

    BIMCO: Key US grain exports could fall 15% in 2023

    Britannia: How to prevent heat damage to agricultural cargoes

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    thinking out of the box

    Thinking out of the box: 5 tips for creative thinking

    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Book Review: A role model for ship managers

    Book Review: How we perceive and deal with luck in life and business

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    Meyer Werft to construct LNG-fuelled ship for NYK Cruises

    Meyer Werft to construct LNG-fuelled ship for NYK Cruises

    DNV: US and Canada will spend $12 trillion on renewable energy

    DNV: US and Canada will spend $12 trillion on renewable energy

    fuels contamination

    K Line and ClassNK launch biofuel emissions reduction certificate

    x press pearl

    Sri Lanka receives interim insurance payment for X-Press Pearl disaster

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    Jotun Hellas pioneers vessel maintenance and safety with novel Aerial Drone Inspection Service

    Jotun Hellas pioneers vessel maintenance and safety with novel Aerial Drone Inspection Service

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

    UK-Singapore consortium achieves world’s first fully-digitalised shipment

    UK-Singapore consortium achieves world’s first fully-digitalised shipment

    K Line, TIS, Miotsukushi to develop AI-powered automatic draft survey application

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    ClassNK amends its rules on construction of steel ships

    Liberia: How to comply with PSC focus on firefighting and clean machinery spaces

    orange county oil spill fines

    Crude oil tanker to pay 88 crores for damaging Haldia oil jetty

    China conducts ballast water inspections to vessels arriving from Japan

    China conducts ballast water inspections to vessels arriving from Japan

    M/V “HAKSA” refused access to the Paris MoU

    M/V “HAKSA” refused access to the Paris MoU

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Do you know what MASS stands for?

    Do you know what MASS stands for?

    france plastic pellet spill

    MOL and Idemitsu Kosan join forces to recycle marine plastic waste

    mines in black sea

    Three more vessels use the Ukrainian Black Sea corridor

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

  • Columns
    Tokyo MOU: Fire Safety is one of the most frequently detainable deficiencies

    Tokyo MOU: Fire Safety is one of the most frequently detainable deficiencies

    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Wellness Corner: Tom O’Hare, Mission to Seafarers

    Wellness Corner: Tom O’Hare, Mission to Seafarers

    Trending Tags

    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    recaap isc

    ReCAAP ISC: No incident of piracy and armed robbery 19 – 25 September

    The Future of Maritime Safety 2023: 853 distress calls in 2022

    The Future of Maritime Safety 2023: 853 distress calls in 2022

    car carrier fire

    Bulk carrier suffers engine room fire in Sumatra, Indonesia

    BIMCO: Key US grain exports could fall 15% in 2023

    Britannia: How to prevent heat damage to agricultural cargoes

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    thinking out of the box

    Thinking out of the box: 5 tips for creative thinking

    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Book Review: A role model for ship managers

    Book Review: How we perceive and deal with luck in life and business

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    Meyer Werft to construct LNG-fuelled ship for NYK Cruises

    Meyer Werft to construct LNG-fuelled ship for NYK Cruises

    DNV: US and Canada will spend $12 trillion on renewable energy

    DNV: US and Canada will spend $12 trillion on renewable energy

    fuels contamination

    K Line and ClassNK launch biofuel emissions reduction certificate

    x press pearl

    Sri Lanka receives interim insurance payment for X-Press Pearl disaster

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    Jotun Hellas pioneers vessel maintenance and safety with novel Aerial Drone Inspection Service

    Jotun Hellas pioneers vessel maintenance and safety with novel Aerial Drone Inspection Service

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

    UK-Singapore consortium achieves world’s first fully-digitalised shipment

    UK-Singapore consortium achieves world’s first fully-digitalised shipment

    K Line, TIS, Miotsukushi to develop AI-powered automatic draft survey application

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    ClassNK amends its rules on construction of steel ships

    Liberia: How to comply with PSC focus on firefighting and clean machinery spaces

    orange county oil spill fines

    Crude oil tanker to pay 88 crores for damaging Haldia oil jetty

    China conducts ballast water inspections to vessels arriving from Japan

    China conducts ballast water inspections to vessels arriving from Japan

    M/V “HAKSA” refused access to the Paris MoU

    M/V “HAKSA” refused access to the Paris MoU

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Do you know what MASS stands for?

    Do you know what MASS stands for?

    france plastic pellet spill

    MOL and Idemitsu Kosan join forces to recycle marine plastic waste

    mines in black sea

    Three more vessels use the Ukrainian Black Sea corridor

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

  • Columns
    Tokyo MOU: Fire Safety is one of the most frequently detainable deficiencies

    Tokyo MOU: Fire Safety is one of the most frequently detainable deficiencies

    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Wellness Corner: Tom O’Hare, Mission to Seafarers

    Wellness Corner: Tom O’Hare, Mission to Seafarers

    Trending Tags

    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

Do you know why ballasting and deballasting are vital for a ship?

by The Editorial Team
October 6, 2022
in Ballast, Maritime Knowledge
Do you know why ballasting and deballasting are vital for a ship?

Image Credit: Shutterstock

FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

Have you ever wondered how ships maintain their stability on the water? Ballast is a key operation surrounding ships, as it is responsible for keeping the vessel upright by ensuring an even distribution of weights.

Generally described as “ballast”, ballasting and deballasting describe the processes of transferring water from the sea to the ship and removing water from the ship to the sea, respectively. But how does this work?

Ballasting and Deballasting: What is it?

In more simple terms, it goes without saying that a ship gets lighter when its cargo is discharged. In these cases, ballast water (basically sea water) is needed to be taken into the vessel’s ballast tanks, to ensure its stability. The ballast water enters the ship’s dedicated ballast tanks, in a procedure known as “ballasting”. These tanks are dedicated to carry only seawater. This process can take place while the ship is unloading its cargo.

RelatedNews

Do you know what MASS stands for?

China conducts ballast water inspections to vessels arriving from Japan

Similarly, when the vessel has cargo onboard, the weight of this cargo maintains somehow the stability of the ship, which makes ballast water unnecessary. In these cases, the ballast water is taken out of the ballast tanks, in a procedure known as de-ballasting. This process can take place while the ship is loading its cargo.

Factors affecting ballasting and deballasting

While it may sound like a simple procedure, the reality is usually more complex. For example, not all ships take in or discharge the same amount of ballast water at any point of time, but this depends on several factors, such as:

  • Regulation: Environmental concerns surrounding ballast water (see below) may restrict the ship from discharging water in certain areas.
  • Cargo or/and ship type: A bulk carrier loading ore will have to discharge more ballast water compared to a ship loading lighter cargo, like paper rolls.
  • Weather: During bad weather, it is a common practice to take in more ballast water to ensure as much ship stability as possible.

Procedures on ballasting and deballasting are typically included in the cargo plan. The Chief Officer is usually responsible for decision-making and supervising the ballasting and de-ballasting procedures in line with the cargo operation but is required to be accompanied by Officers-on-Watch (OOW), who practically implement the procedures written in the cargo plan.

DO YOU KNOW?: Read in this series

Do you know the differences between PCTCs and RoRo/RoPax?

Do you know the differences between PCTCs and RoRo/RoPax?

September 6, 2023
Do you know what FSRUs are?

Do you know what FSRUs are?

March 31, 2023
gemba walk

Do you know what a Gemba walk is?

December 7, 2022
Do you know why ballasting and deballasting are vital for a ship?

Do you know why ballasting and deballasting are vital for a ship?

October 6, 2022
catzoc

Do you know what CatZoc is?

September 2, 2022
iacs

Do you know what VDR is?

August 25, 2022
Do you know how ships are protected from lightning?

Do you know how ships are protected from lightning?

August 1, 2022
singapore Maritime Welfare Fee

Do you know what makes a maritime center?

July 18, 2022
Do you know how climate change relates to shipping?

Do you know how climate change relates to shipping?

July 12, 2022
barnacle fouling

Do you know what biofouling is?

July 11, 2022
onboard carbon capture

Do you know what CII stands for?

June 27, 2022
australia singapore green economy

Do you know what EU Taxonomy is?

June 27, 2022
Green Ray

Do you know what methane slip is?

May 12, 2022
general average

Do you know what General Average means?

May 10, 2022
eunavfor

Do you know where the food you eat comes from?

April 21, 2022
nato shipping centre

Do you know what FOC are?

March 28, 2022
Do you know what the Northern Sea Route is?

Do you know what the Northern Sea Route is?

March 24, 2022
Do you know why a ship’s bow thruster is vital?

Do you know why a ship’s bow thruster is vital?

March 2, 2022
uk us energy security

Do you know what Poseidon Principles stand for?

February 14, 2022
northstandard

Do you know why P&I Clubs are vital for shipping?

December 30, 2021
singapore border measures

Do you know what GT and DWT measure in a ship?

November 10, 2021
ship

Do you know what ships apply SOLAS?

October 29, 2021
low draft limits barranquilla

12 nautical terms to know

October 22, 2021
under keel clearance

Do you know what under keel clearance is? 

October 8, 2021
sire 2.0

Do you know how ship propulsion has changed?

June 1, 2021
NATO phonetic alphabet

Do you know what NATO phonetic alphabet is?

November 24, 2020
gmdss

Do you know what GMDSS stands for?

October 22, 2020
us cruise ships

Do you know what cold ironing is?

October 5, 2020
Do you know what the bulbous bow is for?

Do you know what the bulbous bow is for?

February 6, 2020
old ships

Do you know what happens to a ship when it’s too old to sail anymore?

February 4, 2020
Ship Security Alert System

Do you know what a Ship Security Alert System is?

January 22, 2020
Authorized Service Providers

Do you know how many types of lifeboats exist?

January 17, 2020
flush the toilet

Do you know what happens after you flush the toilet on a ship?

January 16, 2020
master alternative quay

Do you know how many ranks and duties exist onboard? 

December 20, 2019
types of ships

Do you know how many types of ships exist?

December 4, 2019
bimco world fleet

Do you know why IMO number is important for vessels?

December 3, 2019
solas

Do you know when to abandon a ship?

December 3, 2019
panama shipping decarbonization

Do you know how to distinguish an Aframax from a Panamax vessel?

November 21, 2019
bunkering

Do you know what a Bunker Delivery Note includes?

November 20, 2019
emissions from ships

Do you know why FONAR is needed from 2020 and onwards?

October 23, 2019
Plimsoll lines

Do you know what Plimsoll lines on ships are?

October 17, 2019
ships are red

Do you know why ships are red on bottom?

October 16, 2019
starboard

Why do ships use ‘port’ and ‘starboard’ and not ‘left’ or ‘right’

August 18, 2019
pandemic seafarers

Inert Gas onboard: Key safety precautions

May 10, 2019
scottish maritime sector

Do you know why is a ship called she?

April 1, 2019

In which cases is it needed?

Cargo loading and unloading is not the only process where ballast is needed. Ballasting and deballasting is also required when the ship is:

  1. entering a channel
  2. crossing canals
  3. to berth.

It becomes understood that ballast is crucial for the safe operation of ships, as it ensures control of its draft and stability, therefore safety at all times, including inclement weather conditions.

Ballasting and deballasting: Key methods

There are two methods used for ballasting and deballasting. One is pumps and the other is gravity. As expected, the latter is the most economical way, as it requires only opening the valves and letting the seawater find its way to the ballast tanks or vice versa. The process works for all tank sizes, regardless of their length, position and area.  A key concern here is to prevent the flow limit from exceeding the working limit of the used pipes.

This is why the use of high-capacity ballast pumps is usually more efficient as the pumps are usable at any stage of the operation. Dedicated ballast pumps are installed in the pump room of the ship and are normally used to load or discharge the ballast water. These pumps are capable to take suction from the sea or any of the ballast tank and discharge it overboard or to some other ballast tank. The pump must never get dry or overloaded.

A look into a ship’s ballast system

The ballast system of a ship consists of three main parts:

  1. the ballast tanks: These are separated from each other but linked to each other through pipes and valves.
  2. the piping system: This system connects the tanks, the ballast pumps and other peripherals. You can choose which tanks you want to pump water in or out by opening the right valves.
  3. the high-capacity ballast pumps: These are used to pump water in and out of the ballast water tanks during loading, off-loading and other situations described above.

Ballasting and deballasting: Environmental concerns

Despite being essential for stabilizing vessels at sea, ships’ ballast water is a key environmental threat posed by international shipping. The ballast water taken in on a vessel’s tanks in a specific port in a country can very easily transfer invasive aquatic species -such as bacteria, microbes, small invertebrates, eggs, cysts and larvae of various species- to some other port in another country. The transferred species may survive to establish a reproductive population in the host environment, becoming invasive, out-competing native species and multiplying into pest proportions.

The issue is globally recognized as one of the greatest threats to the ecological and economic wellbeing of the planet for causing enormous damage to biodiversity. To address the issue, the IMO’s BWM Convention, requiring all ships to manage their ballast water, entered into force in 2017. The regulation requires every ship -except for military vessels- to have a ballast water management plan and a ballast water management record book, where every ballasting activity must be recorded.

DO YOU KNOW?: Read in this series

Do you know the differences between PCTCs and RoRo/RoPax?

Do you know the differences between PCTCs and RoRo/RoPax?

September 6, 2023
Do you know what FSRUs are?

Do you know what FSRUs are?

March 31, 2023
gemba walk

Do you know what a Gemba walk is?

December 7, 2022
Do you know why ballasting and deballasting are vital for a ship?

Do you know why ballasting and deballasting are vital for a ship?

October 6, 2022
catzoc

Do you know what CatZoc is?

September 2, 2022
iacs

Do you know what VDR is?

August 25, 2022
Do you know how ships are protected from lightning?

Do you know how ships are protected from lightning?

August 1, 2022
singapore Maritime Welfare Fee

Do you know what makes a maritime center?

July 18, 2022
Do you know how climate change relates to shipping?

Do you know how climate change relates to shipping?

July 12, 2022
barnacle fouling

Do you know what biofouling is?

July 11, 2022
onboard carbon capture

Do you know what CII stands for?

June 27, 2022
australia singapore green economy

Do you know what EU Taxonomy is?

June 27, 2022
Green Ray

Do you know what methane slip is?

May 12, 2022
general average

Do you know what General Average means?

May 10, 2022
eunavfor

Do you know where the food you eat comes from?

April 21, 2022
nato shipping centre

Do you know what FOC are?

March 28, 2022
Do you know what the Northern Sea Route is?

Do you know what the Northern Sea Route is?

March 24, 2022
Do you know why a ship’s bow thruster is vital?

Do you know why a ship’s bow thruster is vital?

March 2, 2022
uk us energy security

Do you know what Poseidon Principles stand for?

February 14, 2022
northstandard

Do you know why P&I Clubs are vital for shipping?

December 30, 2021
singapore border measures

Do you know what GT and DWT measure in a ship?

November 10, 2021
ship

Do you know what ships apply SOLAS?

October 29, 2021
low draft limits barranquilla

12 nautical terms to know

October 22, 2021
under keel clearance

Do you know what under keel clearance is? 

October 8, 2021
sire 2.0

Do you know how ship propulsion has changed?

June 1, 2021
NATO phonetic alphabet

Do you know what NATO phonetic alphabet is?

November 24, 2020
gmdss

Do you know what GMDSS stands for?

October 22, 2020
us cruise ships

Do you know what cold ironing is?

October 5, 2020
Do you know what the bulbous bow is for?

Do you know what the bulbous bow is for?

February 6, 2020
old ships

Do you know what happens to a ship when it’s too old to sail anymore?

February 4, 2020
Ship Security Alert System

Do you know what a Ship Security Alert System is?

January 22, 2020
Authorized Service Providers

Do you know how many types of lifeboats exist?

January 17, 2020
flush the toilet

Do you know what happens after you flush the toilet on a ship?

January 16, 2020
master alternative quay

Do you know how many ranks and duties exist onboard? 

December 20, 2019
types of ships

Do you know how many types of ships exist?

December 4, 2019
bimco world fleet

Do you know why IMO number is important for vessels?

December 3, 2019
solas

Do you know when to abandon a ship?

December 3, 2019
panama shipping decarbonization

Do you know how to distinguish an Aframax from a Panamax vessel?

November 21, 2019
bunkering

Do you know what a Bunker Delivery Note includes?

November 20, 2019
emissions from ships

Do you know why FONAR is needed from 2020 and onwards?

October 23, 2019
Plimsoll lines

Do you know what Plimsoll lines on ships are?

October 17, 2019
ships are red

Do you know why ships are red on bottom?

October 16, 2019
starboard

Why do ships use ‘port’ and ‘starboard’ and not ‘left’ or ‘right’

August 18, 2019
pandemic seafarers

Inert Gas onboard: Key safety precautions

May 10, 2019
scottish maritime sector

Do you know why is a ship called she?

April 1, 2019
Tags: ballast waterBWM ConventionDo you knowMaripedia
Previous Post

Wärtsilä to help Capital Gas reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Next Post

MOL joins consortium to promote digitalization to reduce shipping emissions

Related News

Optimarin: Crew training is key element in BWTS installations
Ballast

Optimarin: Crew training is key element in BWTS installations

September 13, 2023
Do you know the differences between PCTCs and RoRo/RoPax?
Maritime Knowledge

Do you know the differences between PCTCs and RoRo/RoPax?

September 6, 2023
Almost half a billion dollars were lost in a single year due to invasive species
Ballast

Almost half a billion dollars were lost in a single year due to invasive species

September 5, 2023
Korea takes measures to avoid radioactive ballast water from Japan
Ballast

Korea takes measures to avoid radioactive ballast water from Japan

August 28, 2023
bwms type approval
Ballast

Britannia: How to maintain proper ballasting standards

July 31, 2023
Ballast

BWMC Updates: Amendments on Ballast Water Record Book effective from February 2025

July 12, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

NATO phonetic alphabet

Do you know what NATO phonetic alphabet is?

November 24, 2020
singapore border measures

Do you know what GT and DWT measure in a ship?

November 10, 2021
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

  • Safety
  • SEAFiT
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Contact

© 2021 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Opinions
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2021 SAFETY4SEA

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Disclaimer.