This is taken aboard a vessel, for at least part of a voyage, in order to obtain sufficient draft and trim for proper steering and propeller immersion. If ballast tank capacity is inadequate, it is the practice to add water to empty cargo or fuel...

Ballast is used in sailboats to provide moment to resist the lateral forces on the sail. Insufficiently ballasted boats will tend to tip, or heel, excessively in high winds. Too much heel may result in the boat capsizing. When sailing vessels carried...