Simulation of Ballast Water Dispersion in the Gulf of Tonkin and Offshore Waters of Hai Phong Port, Vietnam

Hoang Mai Le (Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, 83 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Ha Noi, Viet Nam)
Cong Minh Nguyen (Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, 83 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Ha Noi, Viet Nam)
Thanh Ca Vu (Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, 83 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Ha Noi, Viet Nam)
Thanh Thuy Tran (Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, 83 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Ha Noi, Viet Nam)
Van Dien Nguyen (Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, 83 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Ha Noi, Viet Nam)
Huy Ram Dang (Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, 83 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Ha Noi, Viet Nam)

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development
Vol. 35 No. 1-2 (2018): Extent of transfer of alien invasive organisms in South/Southeast Asia regio

Transfer of invasive alien organisms and their negative impacts have been recorded around the world. It is estimated that approximately 7,000 species of marine creatures are silently moved around the world by ballast water every hour. Recently, discharge of ballast water in the coastal area has become a serious concern. The movement of discharged ballast water and accompanying alien organisms largely depends on the preveiling hydrodynamics of the receiving water body. Dynamics simulation models for marine environment provide sound prediction of dispersion of ballast water. The study was undertaken in the seas of the Gulf of Tonkin and in the offshore area of Hai Phong Port using the MIKE 21 model – a two-dimensional hydrodynamics model. The yearly-mean wind field was used in the model to generate the circulation. Ballast water discharged to the three sites in the study area was simulated by using dispersal-advection model. The outputs showed that ballast water discharged near the coast tends to move along the coastline. Ballast water discharged at 200 NM seaward from the coast is still able to influence the coastal zone of Vietnam.