Ballasting
To take ballast water aboard make sure the valve at sea water chest is open, then open
remote valves to which ever ballast tank you require to take water and start the ballast
pump. During the ballasting process it must be ensured that the ballast water passes
through the ballast water treatment system. This is used to ensure no foreign species can be
transferred to other parts of the world through ships ballast waters being pumped out with
invasive species in the water. The plant uses a UV system to remove all ballast water
species. When ballasting is completed stop the pump, close the valves to the tanks. Almost
all of the valves in the ballast system are operated by air actuators which can be controlled
remotely from the engine control room and bridge. The valve at the sea water inlet is a
normal hand operated butterfly valve, this valve is normally left open for operating
efficiency. As the bridge do the ballasting it saves them having to request the sea inlet valve
being opened and closed every time they do ballast operations.
De-Ballasting