Ballastisüsteem

Ballastisüsteem refers to a system used to add weight to a vessel, typically a ship or submarine, to improve its stability, control its trim, or achieve a desired draft. For surface vessels, ballast is often water taken into tanks. By adjusting the amount of water in these tanks, the ship's center of gravity can be lowered, increasing its resistance to rolling in rough seas. This is crucial for the safety and seaworthiness of the vessel. Ballast can also be used to compensate for the weight of cargo removed during a voyage, ensuring the ship remains stable throughout its journey.

Submarines utilize ballast tanks in a more dynamic way. They can flood these tanks with seawater to decrease their buoyancy and submerge, or expel the water with compressed air to increase buoyancy and surface. This precise control over buoyancy is fundamental to a submarine's ability to operate underwater. The system involves a network of tanks, pumps, valves, and compressed air systems. The strategic manipulation of ballast is essential for maintaining depth, maneuvering, and surfacing or diving. Historically, solid materials like rocks or sand were also used as ballast, particularly in sailing ships, to lower the center of gravity and improve stability. Modern systems primarily rely on water due to its ease of handling and adjustability.