Ballast tanks
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.1021 – Design Suggestions for Ballast Water and Sediment Management Options in New Ships – (Adopted on 21 March 2002) - Annex - Design Suggestions for Ballast Water and Sediment Management Options in New Ships - 3 Design considerations to enhance management, control and operational strategies - Ballast tanks

Ballast tanks

  3.6 The design of ballast tanks should facilitate the enhanced removal of ballast water and sediments by:

  • .1 internal girders, longitudinals, stiffeners, intercostals and floors, where fitted should incorporate extra drain holes which will allow water to flow with minimal restriction during discharge and stripping operations;

  • .2 where inner members butt against bulkheads, their installation should be such as to prevent the formation of stagnant pools or sediment traps;

  • .3 where internal longitudinals are fitted with face bar stiffeners, consideration should be given to fit the face bar stiffeners below the horizontal surfaces to aid drain off from the stiffeners;

  • .4 flow calculations (CFD) should be undertaken to determine the size of drain holes to confirm there is sufficient flow of water to the suction heads to match the capacity of the discharge of ballast water;

  • .5 installation of suction wells in ballast tanks that do not form part of the bottom of the ship;

  • .6 consideration of the installation of tank cleaning systems to assist with the removal of sediments during ballast discharge. Also, consideration of the use of such systems during the loaded passage to assist in the minimization of sediment in a tank; and

  • .7 installation of ballast water stripping systems using eductors.

Parent topic: 3 Design considerations to enhance management, control and operational strategies
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