The Challenges of Virtual Reality Simulation Technologies in the Domain of Ballast Water Management

Ballast water is the water that ships carry in their ballast tanks to maintain seaworthiness and cargo worthiness. While ballast water is essential for the safe operations of ships, it can have negative consequences due to the possible transfer of invasive species. The sea trade volume is expected to grow in the future, which means that the negative impact on biodiversity, economic losses, and potential risks to human health could become more harmful. A crucial element in reducing the possible negative impact of ballast water is Ballast Water Management. Ships are required to treat their ballast water to remove or neutralize harmful organisms before discharging it in new environments. The process is complex and requires proper knowledge and skills of all stakeholders in considering segments of the maritime industry. The introduction of technological advances resulted in changes in the method of training and certification of seafarers to achieve the proposed competence in the domain of Ballast Water Management. The training and educational skills expected today from ship's crew in the domain of Ballast Water Management are constantly increasing. Modern technology, such as virtual reality (VR), enables all stakeholders in the considered domain of the maritime industry to obtain the required training and educational skills with less effort, avoiding the faults in the operation with the real ballast system. The paper highlights the challenges associated with the broader adaptation of VR technology in the domain of Ballast Water Management.