<![CDATA[Ballast tanks are essential for maintaining a ship’s stability, trim, and draught, but their wet and corrosive environment makes them among the areas of the hull most susceptible to corrosion, coating breakdown, and leakage. Leakage of a ballast tank can reduce stability, cause contamination of adjacent tanks, and, if neglected, endanger the structural integrity and seaworthiness of the ship. This study analyses the causes of ballast tank leakage on the self-propelled oil barge (SPOB) Toto XIV and the measures taken to prevent and repair it. A qualitative descriptive design was used, with data collected through observation of the condition of the ballast tanks, interviews with the crew, and documentation of the logbook, maintenance reports, and technical data during the authors’ sea practice from January 2022 to January 2023. The results show that the leakage was caused by corrosion and thinning of the tank plating, which resulted from two main factors: the limited knowledge and experience of the crew in carrying out hull and tank maintenance, together with insufficient supervision by the officers; and the irregular docking schedule of the ship, which the company postponed because of limited operating funds and changing operating routes. Leaks found during routine inspection were closed temporarily with a steel plate, rubber packing, and a clamp screw and then repaired by welding a steel plate over the cleaned area. Stricter selection and job orientation training of crew members, routine inspection of the ballast tanks and piping, correct filling of the tanks to avoid overpressure, effective supervision, regular docking in accordance with the survey requirements, and corrosion protection by coating and sacrificial anodes are recommended.]]>
