Marine Advisory: 34/2025 - Amendments to the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk

(b) Marine Notice TEC-006, Rev. 02/2025

Dear Shipowners/Operators/Masters/Crew:

Purpose

The purpose of this Marine Advisory is to draw the attention of shipowners, operators, inspectors, masters and crew to recent amendments to the International Grain Code.

Background

The International Grain Code as originally adopted contained the following three (3) loading conditions:

• "filled compartment, trimmed' - any cargo space in which, after loading and trimming, the bulk grain is at its highest possible level.
• "filled compartment, untrimmed'' - a cargo space which is filled to the maximum extent possible in way of the hatch opening but which has not been trimmed outside the periphery of the hatch opening, either as allowed for all ships or for "specially suitable compartment" (typically bulk carriers with sloping top-side tanks), under the applicable provisions of the Code.
• "partly filled compartment" - any cargo space wherein the bulk grain is not loaded in the manner described above.

In the practice of loading ships with grain, a loading condition that has been frequently observed is where a "specially suitable compartment" is filled up to or above the bottom edge of the hatch end beams, but not to the highest possible level in way of the hatch opening. It was brough to the attention of IMO that this situation is not specifically addressed in the Code, leading to uncertainty in application of the Code and possible lack of information necessary to evaluate the safety of a ship under such a loading condition.

Amendments

After discussions at IMO, amendments to the International Grain Code were adopted (refence (a)), which enter into force on 01 January 2026. The following new additional condition was defined:

▪ “specially suitable compartment, partly filled in way of the hatch opening, with ends untrimmed” - a specially suitable compartment which is not filled to the maximum extent possible in way of the hatch opening but is filled to a level equal with or above the bottom edge of the hatch end beams and has not been trimmed outside the periphery of the hatch opening.

Amendments were also made to allow loading grain in the newly defined condition along with amendments to the calculation of assumed heeling moments to account for grain loaded this way.

Recommendations

Owners, Operators, Masters and Crew of vessels that load grain are advised to review the loading conditions of grain in their vessels and if it is anticipated that grain will be loaded as defined in the new loading condition described above, to update the vessel’s Grain Loading Manual to include the heeling moments from grain loaded this way.

Any onboard loading computer systems used to calculate grain heeling moments and associated loading conditions must be updated to incorporate the new loading condition and amended stability calculations.

As noted in reference (b), loading plans, calculations and other data related to grain loading arrangements are to be submitted directly to the vessel’s classification society for approval.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Regulations and Standards Department at RegsAndStandards@liscr.com.

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