The International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in

Bulk (International Grain Code)

General

The International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk (International Grain Code), adopted by r
has been mandatory under SOLAS chapter VI since 1 January 1994. The term "grain" covers wheat,
barley, rice, pulses, seeds and processed forms thereof, whose behaviour is similar to that of grain i
International Grain Code applies to ships regardless of size, including those of less than 500 gross to
carriage of grain in bulk and to which part C of SOLAS chapter VI applies. The purpose of the
international standard for the safe carriage of grain in bulk.

Outline

The International Grain Code requires a document of authorization to be issued for every ship loaded
Code. The document of authorization serves as evidence that the ship is capable of complying with t
Code and it must be accompanied or incorporated into the grain loading manual which contains inform
master to meet the stability requirements of the Code. A copy of the document of compliance togethe
stability data and associated plans shall be carried on board in order that the master, if so required,
the inspection of the Contracting Government of the country of the port of loading.

The contents of the International Grain Code are divided as follows:

Part A - Specific Requirements

Section 1 - Application
Section 2 - Definitions
Section 3 - Document of authorization
Section 4 - Equivalents
Section 5 - Exemptions for certain voyages
Section 6 - Information regarding ship's stability and grain loading
Section 7 - Stability - Requirements
Section 8 - Stability requirements for existing ships
Section 9 - Optional stability requirements for ships without documents of author
cargoes of bulk grain
Section 10 - Stowage of bulk grain
Section 11 - Strength of grain fittings
Section 12 - Divisions loaded on both sides
Section 13 - Divisions loaded on one side only
Section 14 - Saucers
 Section 15 - Bundling of bulk grain
Section 16 - Overstowing arrangements
Section 17 - Strapping or lashing
Section 18 - Securing with wire mesh

Part B - Calculation of assumed heeling moments and general assumptions

Section 1 - General Assumptions

Section 2 - Assumed volumetric heeling moment of a filled compartment, trimmed
Section 3 - Assumed volumetric heeling moment of a filled compartment, untrimmed
Section 4 - Assumed volumetric heeling moments in trunks
Section 5 - Assumed volumetric heeling moment of a partly filled compartment
Section 6 - Other assumptions

Bulk carrier guide for international grain code requirements

Grains such as wheat, rye, maize, rice, oats, seeds and their
processed forms have been commonly transported by ships. Grains
have a tendency to settle and shift within a ship's cargo
compartments.
A compartment may be full when the cargo is loaded but, due to
ship's vibration and other movements, the grain settles leaving
space at the top of the cargo. This space allows cargo to move from
side to side in conjunction with the rolling and pitching of the
vessel.

Fig: Hold of a bulk carrier that is grain clean and ready to load
As the cargo shifts the vessel lists to one side. The International
Grain Code was written at a time when grain was predominantly
carried onboard general cargo vessels, employing methods including
saucering, bundling and strapping. However, modern bulk carriers
are designed and constructed taking the problems of carrying grain
into consideration. The BLU Code refers to loading and discharging
operations and develops an understanding of procedures.

SOLAS regulation VI/9.1 (Requirements for cargo ships carrying

grain) provides that a cargo ship carrying grain must hold a
Document of Authorization as required by the International Grain
Code, and for the purposes of regulation 9, the requirements of the
Code should be treated as mandatory. A ship without a Document of
Authorization must not load grain until the master satisfies the flag
State Administration, or the SOLAS Contracting Government of the
port of loading on behalf of the Administration, that the ship will
comply with the requirements of the International Grain Code in its
proposed loaded condition (regulation 9.2).

The International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk is

commonly called the “International Grain Code” was adopted by the
IMO Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.23(59). It
applies to ships regardless of size, including those of less than
500gt, engaged in the carriage of grain in bulk, to which part C of
chapter VI of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended, applies (A
1.1).

Grain Code defines “grain” as including wheat, maize (corn), oats,

rye, barley, rice, pulses, seeds and processed forms thereof, whose
behaviour is similar to that of grain in its natural state .

A Document of Authorization must be issued by or on behalf of the

flag State Administration for every ship loaded in accordance with
the Code, and must be accepted as evidence that the ship is
capable of complying with the Code (A 3.1).

The Document of Authorization must accompany or be incorporated

into the Grain Loading Manual provided to enable the master to
meet the requirements of A 7 (A 3.2). The Manual must meet the
requirements of A 6.3 (A 3.2).

The Document of Authorization, grain loading stability data and

associated plans may be in the official language or languages of the
issuing country. If the language used is neither English nor French,
the text must include a translation into either English or French.

A copy of the Document of Authorization, grain loading stability data

and associated plans must be placed on board so that the master, if
required, may produce them for inspection by the SOLAS
Contracting Government at the loading port (A 3.4).

The flag State Administration, or a SOLAS Contracting Government

on its behalf, may exempt individual ships or classes of ship from
particular requirements of the Code if it considers that the sheltered
nature and conditions of the voyage are such as to render their
application unreasonable or unnecessary.

Information in printed booklet form (i.e. a Grain Loading Manual)

must be provided to enable the master to ensure that the ship
complies with the Code when carrying grain in bulk on an
international voyage (A 6.1). Information to be in the booklet is
listed in A 6.2 and A 6.3. The information in A 6.2 must be
acceptable to the flag State Administration (or a Contracting
Government on its behalf), while the information in A 6.3 must be
approved by that body.

A ship not having on board a Document of Authorisation issued in

accordance with A 3 of the Code may be permitted to load bulk
grain subject to certain conditions, one of which is that the total
weight of the bulk grain does not exceed one third of the ship’s
deadweight (A 9.1).

Related info :

 Hazards and safety precautions for grain cargo

 Presence of contaminants & handling other defective grain

 Grain terminology from IMO grain code