Vessels fitted with ballast water treatment systems worldwide by type 2019
In 2019, less than a quarter of the world's bulk carriers were fitted with ballast water treatment systems. The penetration rate was slightly higher in liquefied natural gas carriers: about 29 percent of these vessels treated their ballast water. In contrast to this, only one percent of passenger ships had systems in place for managing their ballast water. When untreated, ballast water can seriously damage aquatic ecosystems and lead to human health issues.
