ballast tank

noun

One of several external or internal tanks fitted in submarines; when filled with seawater they allow the boat to submerge; when emptied using compressed air buoyancy is restored and the vessel rises towards the surface. Auxiliary ballast tanks within the pressure hull allow the submarine to be trimmed.

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Meanings

nounballast tank (plural ballast tanks)

plural ballast tanks

  1. One of several external or internal tanks fitted in submarines; when filled with seawater they allow the boat to submerge; when emptied using compressed air buoyancy is restored and the vessel rises towards the surface. Auxiliary ballast tanks within the pressure hull allow the submarine to be trimmed.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
buoyancy tank

Translations

Polish balast
  • balastTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

ballast tank. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ballast%20tank

MLA

“ballast tank.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ballast%20tank. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ballast tank,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ballast%20tank.

Source: ballast tank on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.