Glossary

Ballast water

Water used for as ballast for ships.

When a ship sets sail without a load, seawater (ballast water) is loaded into a tank on the bottom of the ship to stabilize the hull. This water is then discharged when loading cargo at a destination port.

Ballast water has become the source of various problems around the world as the water contains foreign organisms that are also discharged, causing destruction to the ecosystem in the waters into which they are discharged, damaging economic activities, and opening the door to various health concerns.

In response, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, which requires vessels to clean ballast water before discharging.

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