• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.181-192
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• 2011

Ballasting and deballasting of shipping vessels in foreign ports have been reported worldwide as a vector of introduction of non-native aquatic plants and animals. Recently, attention has turned to ballast water as a factor in the global increase of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Many species of microalgae, including harmful dinoflagellate species, can remain viable for months in dormant benthic stages (cysts) in ballast sediments. Over a period of four years, we surveyed ballast water and sediment of ships docked in two ports of Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. Sampling conditions encountered while sampling ballast water and sediments were vastly different between vessels. Since no single sample collection protocol could be applied, existing methods for sampling ballast were modified and new methods created to reduce time and labor necessary for the collection of high-quality, qualitative samples. Five methods were refined or developed, including one that allowed for a directed intake of water and sediments. From 63 samples, 1,633 dinoflagellate cysts and cyst-like cells were recovered. A native, cyst-forming, harmful dinoflagellate, Alexandrium balechii (Steidinger) F. J. R. Taylor, was collected, isolated, and cultured from the same vessel six months apart, indicating that ships exchanging ballast water in Tampa Bay have the potential to transport HAB species to other ports with similar ecologies, exposing them to non-native, potentially toxic blooms.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.75-82
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• 2001

Static loadings on ship structure induced either by water pressure before service such as a tank test and ballasting or by cargo pressure during first laden voyage cause relatively much greater stress than dynamic loadings induced by wave. With these static pre-loadings, the initial residual stresses around welded joint, where fatigue strength is concerned(in most cases, where stress concentration occurs) are expected to be shaken-down in a great extent by the elasto-plastic deformation behavior of material. Therefore, it is more resonable to assess the fatigue strength of ship structure with S-N data which have taken into account the effect of shaken-down residual stresses(re-distributed stresses) on the fatigue strength. In this research work, the re-distribution of residual stresses by the tensile pre-loading is measured using an ordinary sectioning method for specimens of padding plate weldment. Fatigue tests are performed also to evaluate the fatigue strength of the both as-welded and pre-loaded specimens.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.245-252
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• 2016

This study investigated the environmental conditions and planktonic organisms in the ballast waters (BW) of 22 vessels originating from the international ports of Japan for the purpose of negotiating exemptions from the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM Convention). The shortest duration of the BW was $3.33{\pm}1.87days$ in area "A", which included Kyushu and Suo Nada at Seto Inland. The total suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon, and particulate organic carbon ranged from 4.60 to 60.9 mg L-1, from 0.97 to 2.69 mg L-1, and from 0.24 to 4.51 mg L-1, respectively. A low average concentration of nutrients was measured in the BW from area "A", but that in the BW from area "C" (around central Honshu) was high, which may be related to the ballasting periods. High chlorophyll-a concentrations (>$1{\mu}g\;L-1$) were measured in four vessels, three of which carried the BW in area "A". High abundances of phytoplankton (> 50,000 cells L-1) were measured in four vessels, three of which carried the BW in area "A". The two vessels originating from Tokyuyama Bay in area "A" showed high densities of dinoflagellates, which are known to be harmful algae. Our results suggest that the negotiations for an exemption from the BWM Convention for Japan should proceed with caution.