Methods of Reducing or Eliminating the Adverse Heeling Effect of Grain Shift

Shifting Board/ Longitudinal Division (Filled+ Partly Filled)

Over-stowing (Filled+ Partly Filled)
Strapping and Lashing (Filled+ Partly Filled)
Saucering (Filled)
Bundling (Filled)
Feeders (Filled)

Shifting Board/ Longitudinal Division

Shifting boards are installed longitudinally. Timbers used for fitting should be of
sound quality.
Shifting boards shall have a thickness of not less than 50 mm, shall be fitted
grain-tight and where necessary, supported by uprights.
Spacing required for uprights: 2.5 mtr for 50 mm boards, 3.0 mtr for 60 mm
boards, 3.5 mtr for 70 mm boards and 4.0 mtr for 80 mm boards.
Shifting boards shall extend from deck to deck in filled tween deck compartment,
while in a filled hold, they will extend to at least 0.6 mtr below the grain surface,
after assuming a shift of 15°.
In a partly filled compartment, shifting boards can extend from at least 1/8th of
max. breadth of the compartment above the surface of levelled grain to the same
distance below.
Wooden shores shall be heeled on the permanent structure of the ship and be as
near horizontal as practical but in no case more than 45° to the horizontal.
Steel wire rope stays set up horizontally may be fitted in place of wooden shores
but the wire must be of a size to support a load in the stay support of 4.9 kN/m2.
Over-stowing

The free grain surface shall be levelled and covered with a separation cloth or by
a suitable platform made by spreading wooden boards on wooden bearers.
The separation cloth or platform shall be topped off with bagged grain tightly
stowed and extending to a height not less than 1/16th of the maximum breadth of
the free grain surface or 1.2 mtr, whichever is greater.
Bagged grain shall be carried in sound bags which shall be well filled and
securely closed.

Saucering

Grain is loaded so as to form a saucer in the hatchway.

Min. depth of saucer:
1.2 mtr if moulded breadth is less than 9.1 mtr.
1.8 mtr if moulded breadth is equal to or more than 18.3 mtr.
For intermediate breadth, depth of saucer to be interpolated.
Saucer is lined with separation cloth and completely filled with bagged grain upto
the underside of hatch cover.
Bags should be stowed tightly against the adjoining structure. Such structure
which may include the hatch coaming and hatch side girder should extend for
atleast half the depth of the saucer; else the saucer must be secured in position.
Means of securing are same as in Bundling.
Bundling

Dimensions of the bundle are same as in Saucering.

Saucer is lined with a material acceptable to the Administration, having a Tensile
Strength of not less than 2687 N per 5 cm and provided with suitable means of
securing at the top.
Athwartship lashing shall be placed inside the saucer at intervals of not more
than 2.4 mtrs.
Bearer boards of 25 mm X 150 – 300 mm shall be laid in F&A direction over
these lashings to prevent the cutting and chafing of the material, which shall be
placed thereon to line the saucer.
The saucer shall be filed with bulk grain and secured at the top after covering the
material before the saucer is secured by setting up the lashings.

Strapping/ Lashing

Lashing Material should be attached to the ship side frames at a point approx.
450 mm below the anticipated final grain surface.
After completion of loading, the grain surface must be trimmed and slightly
crowned. It shall be covered with burlap or tarpaulin, overlapping each other by
min. 1.8 m.
2 solid floors of bearer boards 25 mm X 150 – 300 mm shall be laid one on top of
the other – bottom layer in athwartship direction and top layer in Fore & Aft
direction.
Lashings are supported by single, athwartship line of bearer boards, extending
the full breadth of the compartment.
Tightened by turnbuckle, the dunnage bears down on the F&A layer and spreads
the pressure exerted over the entire grain surface.
An alternative method known as ‘Securing with Wire Mesh’ involves use of 2
layers of wire mesh, instead of wooden bearers.
All lashings in party filled compartments must be inspected regularly and
tightened as necessary