Why might ballast have
been important to the condition of goods
transported by ship?

Ships take on and discharge ballast water to compensate for changes in the mass of cargo carried. ... Many other species, referred to as fouling organisms, are transported when they attach to the hulls of ships. Both ballast and hull fouling are important vectors of freshwater, as well as marine, organisms.

answer; primary source information;

you probably know the answer. stop asking stupid questions and making me waste my time. j.k. ; )   b.t.w. what are three ratios equivalent to 5 : 11? thx