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A Detailed Explanation on How to Operate a

Ship’s Ballast System

By Anish | In: Guidelines | Last Updated on May 31, 2017

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Ballast and de-ballast operations on ship must be carried out by an experienced and responsible officer
as it is directly related to the stability factor of the ship. A ballast system may differ from ship to ship
but the basics of all ballast systems remain same; filling, removing, and transferring water from one
tank to other to get the required stability for a ship.

Getting Familiar with the System

All valves in the ballast system are normally hydraulically operated from the remote operator station in
the ship’s control centre or in the ECR in manual mode or in automatic sequence.

The ballast pump suction and discharge valves, along with other valves, have their fail safe in the OPEN
position so that if any valve malfunction or get stuck, still remains open to carry out ballast operation.

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The overboard discharge valves have their fail safe as fail-stay position

Different Forms of Ballasting and De-ballasting

Ballasting or De-ballasting can be done in five following ways:

Transferring water between tanks using gravity.

Ballasting or De-ballasting tanks from sea using gravity.

Ballasting the tanks using the ballast pump/pumps.

De-ballasting the tanks using the ballast pump/pumps.

De-ballasting the tanks using the stripping ejectors.

Note: Double bottom tanks should always be filled by gravity.

Important Points to Consider while Operating Ship’s Ballast System

Care should be taken to ensure that the tank is not over filled; as this will damage the tanks because
the pressure vacuum valves have lower capacity than that of the pump. The filling valves will close
automatically when the tanks reach their set point level, which have been pre-set.

Also care has to be taken not to run the pump dry or run the pump with discharge valves closed. This
can be taken care by automated system, which ensures that the pump will not start until all the
necessary valves are opened.

Valves can be put in auto mode, which ensures that the valve closes automatically once ballast tank is
filled with required amount of water or once the set point is reached.

Port and starboard sides are considered two separate systems, each having their own automatic
sequence for ballast /de-ballasting.
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When filling ballast tanks with ballast pumps it should be observed that the motors are not overloaded
(check current in ammeter). If this occurs, the number of opened valves to ballast tanks shall
immediately be reduced (closed) until current is within allowable limit.  Ballast pump motor overload
alarm is given for the safety of ballast pump.

Some times during sea voyage one can get an alarm on the ballast pumps suction pressure high. At
that time just open the suction valve to the sea chest and close them when the pressure is reduced.

The water in the heeling tanks should always be half of their total capacity. But if required the heeling
tanks can be used as ballast tanks. Ballast pump is used to empty or fill the heeling tank.

Also in some ports the port authorities may ask for a sample of the ballast that the ship is carrying. In
this case the sample has to be taken from the sounding pipe connection. The locations of all the
sounding pipes are provided on the ballast system plan of the ship.

You may also like to read-What is Ballast Water Management Plan ?

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About Anish
An ardent sailor and a techie, Anish Wankhede has voyaged on a number of ships as a
marine engineer officer. He loves multitasking, networking, and troubleshooting. He is the
one behind the unique creativity and aesthetics at Marine Insight.

Comments

deepak a v says
OCTOBER 31, 2014 AT 12:30 AM

i would like to have data about ballasting on ships regarding the principle and working of
ballast system on a ship please mail me some data.
 deepak a v says
OCTOBER 31, 2014 AT 12:32 AM

if possible a slide presentation about the subject.

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