Ballastisäiliöiden

Ballastisäiliöiden, known in English as ballast tanks, are fundamental components in the operation of submarines and floating docks. Their primary purpose is to control buoyancy by managing the amount of water or air within them.

In submarines, ballast tanks are used to achieve neutral buoyancy, allowing the vessel to submerge and surface. When the submarine needs to dive, valves are opened, allowing water to flood the tanks, increasing the submarine's overall weight and density, causing it to sink. To surface, compressed air is forced into the ballast tanks, expelling the water and reducing the submarine's density, making it buoyant enough to rise. Submarines typically have both main ballast tanks, located externally, and trim tanks, located internally, which are used for fine-tuning buoyancy and stability.

For floating docks, ballast tanks serve a similar but distinct function. They are used to adjust the dock's draft and stability, enabling it to lift or lower vessels for maintenance or repair. By flooding or emptying ballast tanks, the dock's buoyancy can be precisely controlled. This allows the dock to partially submerge to accommodate a ship, and then, by pumping out the water, to lift the ship clear of the water.

The design and operation of ballast tanks are critical for the safety and functionality of these maritime structures. Their effective management ensures stability, maneuverability, and the ability to perform their intended roles.