Ballast

Ballast refers to the heavy material, often water or sand, carried by a ship to maintain stability and proper balance. In maritime logistics, ballast is used to compensate for changes in cargo weight or to adjust the vessel’s draft, ensuring safe navigation and preventing excessive rolling or pitching of the ship. Ballast is loaded or discharged as needed to maintain the ship’s stability, especially when the cargo holds are not fully loaded. The management of ballast water is also a critical environmental consideration to prevent the transfer of invasive species between different regions.