The invention provides for a novel apparatus and a method to effectively
manage ballast material. It comprises of a plurality of Floating Ballast
Containers (25) contained within a bottomless enclosure and secured on
the sea faring vessel such that each floating ballast container (25)
floats in seawater. The volumetric capacity of the conventional
segregated ballast tanks (30) on the sea faring vessel is similar to that
of the Floating Ballast Containers (25) so as to facilitate the movement
of the ballast material between the conventional ballast tanks (30) and
Floating Ballast Containers (25). This process eliminates the need for
treatment or disposal of the ballast material in to the sea.