45 



water arriving in Onlted States ports. 



We assessed ballast release patterns in ten aajor U. S. coMerclal. 

 hydrograpbic and biogeographlc regions: (1) Gulf of Maine, (2) aid Atlantic, 

 (3) the south Atlantic, (4) the eastern Gulf of Mexico, (5) the western Gulf 

 of Mexico. (6) southern California, (7) northern California, (8) the Pacific 

 Northwest, (9) Alaska, and (10) the Hawaiian Islands. To determine potential 

 control and aanageaent options, and for data collection in general, we spoke, 

 wrote, and worked with over 500 persons in industry and in international, 

 national, state, and local agencies, institutions and universities. 



A portion of the findings and conclusions relative to ballast water of 

 the Shipping Study (%rtilch also examined non-ballast ■echanisas such as hull 

 fouling) is as follows: 



* There are three major divisions of ocean-going vessels: Passenger 

 vessels, including liners, ferries, and excursion boats, cargo vessels, 

 including bulk carriers, container ships, and taitkers, and specialised 

 vessels. Including barges, fishing vessels, and semlsubmerslble 

 exploratory drilling platforms. A vessel may be viewed as a "biological 

 island" with organisms occurring on the outside (as fouling organisms, 

 or "blofoullng"). on the inside (in ballast water and sediments), and 

 aboard the vessel (insects, spiders, rodents, and many other organisms). 



* Ballast water is taken aboard to stabilize a vessel at sea and for a 

 variety of other purposes. Ballast water may be fresh (0.5 parts per 

 thousand (o/oo) dissolved salts or less), brackish (salt levels ranging 

 from more than 0.5 to 30 o/oo) or salt (greater than 30 o/oo). Most 

 ballast water contains living organisms and dissolved and suspended 

 organic and inorganic compounds. Transoceanic and Interoceanic use of 

 ballast water cooaenced in the 1880s, although it is probable that it 

 was not until during and after World War II that ballast water in 

 appreciable volumes began to be moved around the world. 



* Ballast water is pumped aboard a vessel from several meters depth with 



