Chesapeake Quarterly
June 2009, Vol. 8 No. 2

A Question of Ballast
Protecting Ships, Preventing Species Invasions

Demand for goods around the world drives the global shipping industry. After delivering cargo in one port, ships often take on water in their ballast tanks to provide the extra weight necessary to keep them traveling safely until their next destination. When they arrive, they discharge the water and pick up more cargo. But when ballast water flows out of the ship, plants, animals, and microbes may come with it, introducing potentially invasive species to a new ecosystem. Measures are in place to reduce this risk, but scientists like those at the Maritime Environmental Resource Center are searching for better solutions.



Featured Photographers

Maryland Sea Grant Writers and Editors

Jeff Brainard, writer and communications director, brainard@mdsg.umd.edu

Michael W. Fincham, writer and film producer, fincham@mdsg.umd.edu

Sandy Rodgers, art director and editor, rodgers@mdsg.umd.edu

Other Photographers

Chesapeake Quarterly also features the photography of others, including professional photographer Skip Brown. Brown began shooting for Maryland Sea Grant right out of college in the early 1980s and over the years has produced many classic Bay photographs.

Rights to the photographs in this gallery are owned by the photographer or by Maryland Sea Grant. Contact Skip Brown (skipbrownphoto@gmail.com) to inquire about the purchase of his photographs. For use of other photographs, contact Sandy Rodgers (rodgers@mdsg.umd.edu).

Photo Gallery
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