Ballast Water Review: Impacts, Treatments and Management

Stability is necessary for a ship to sail safely. For this reason, seawater is collected and taken to the bottom of the ship and stored in specially made compartments. This water is used to maintain the ship's stability and it is known as ballast water. This practice of pumping ballast water not only provides stability, it also reduces stress on the hull, improves propulsion and maneuverability and compensates for weight lost due to fuel and water consumption. So, this review will focus on some environmental manipulations of this ballast water beginning with its nature, important, impacts, treatments, managements and ending with its regulations through the international Maritime Organization (IMO) in order to emphasize our responsibility towards the protection of our marine environments.