Historical overview on the use of ballast water in shipping

Since more than 100 years scientists assumed that ballast water of vessels is one of the major introduction pathways of non-indigenous species. Although this assumption was proven as true due to several ballast water sampling studies, it remained unclear for long who invented to use water as ballast in shipping. In the early days, and phasing out solid ballast in the 1850/60s, different ballasting ways were tried including to store water in bags, barrels and boxes to ballast vessels. A comprehensive research of historical maritime literature and databases revealed the first naval architects who described the use of water as ballast. Using ballast water, instead of solid ballast, was easy to handle and time-efficient and so-called wells filled with water were proposed to be used to ballast vessels. Those wells were created by properly sealed wooden vessel compartments and the entire patented arrangement was called “water ballast apparatus”. However, with the development of double hulled iron ships with cellular compartments along the hull, ballast water tanks were invented and patented first by the British naval architect Ralph Rewcastle in 1827. Other key naval architects and engineers to develop this concept were listed and the first vessel on which dedicated ballast water tanks were installed was identified as the coal-carrier “Q.E.D.”, launched in 1844. Policy implications. This invention did not only result in major naval architecture improvements, but it prompted ballast water mediated species introductions by large. • First ballast tank patent by British naval architect Ralph Rewcastle appeared 1827 • First vessel with dedicated ballast water tanks was the coal-carrier “Q.E.D.” • The use of water as ballast became common in the 1850s