Glossary Discription

 Ballast refers to heavy material—typically water, sand, or other dense substances—that is loaded into a vessel’s cargo holds or dedicated ballast tanks to provide stability, maintain proper draft, and ensure safe navigation when the ship is not fully loaded with cargo. This essential maritime practice allows vessels to adjust their weight distribution and center of gravity to compensate for varying cargo loads throughout a voyage. Ballast is strategically placed below the waterline to lower the ship’s center of gravity and improve stability, particularly during empty or partially loaded voyages.