The basic concept behind the ballast tank can be seen in many forms of aquatic life, such as the blowfish or
The … See more

Ballast is used in surface vessels to alter the draft, trim, list and stability. It may also be used to modify structural load distribution, usually the longitudinal load distribution which affects hogging and sagging str… See more

In submersibles and submarines, ballast tanks are used to control the buoyancy of the vessel.
Some submersibles, such as bathyscaphes, dive and re-surface solely by controlling their buoya… See more

Ballast tanks are also integral to the stability and operation of deepwater offshore oil platforms and floating wind turbines. The ballast increases "hydrostatic stability by moving the center of mass as low as possible, pl… See more

Most wakeboard-specific inboard-engine boats have multiple integrated ballast tanks that are filled with water by ballast pumps controlled from the helm with rocker switches. Typically the configuration is based on … See more

Ballast tanks are also used in some types of aircraft, such as Aerostats (balloons and airships). See more

Ballast water taken into a tank from one body of water and discharged in another body of water can introduce invasive species of aquatic life. The taking in of water from ballast tanks has been responsible for the introdu… See more