An apparatus and method for ballasting and de-ballasting a vessel (100) havinga hull (102) with a plurality of waterlight ballast compartments (X1,X2,X3,8)wherein each ballast compartment has an individual pump caisson (10,20,30,80)extending vertically to the top of the hull, but the ballast/deballast systemcontains no valves within the hull. An external caisson (56) is used toprovide a source of seawater. Several submersible pumps (121,123,111) areavailable for rigging into and out of the internal and external caissons andprovide the ballast and de-ballast operations via an installed manifold systemat the top of the columns. Venting (59) of the ballast tanks may beaccomplished through a connection to atmosphere near the top of the pumpcaissons.
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