BULK GRAIN CARGO Ronn Andre R.

Napala

OPERATION BSMT II-A

INTERNATIONAL GRAIN CODE
(IGC)
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
Grain Code defines “grain” as including wheat, maize (corn), oats, rye, barley, rice,
pulses, seeds and processed forms thereof, whose behavior is similar to that of grain
in its natural state.
FILLED/PARTIALLY FILLED
COMPARTMENT
FILLED/PARTIALLY FILLED
COMPARTMENT
• The term filled compartment, trimmed, refers to any cargo space in which,
after loading and trimming as required under A 10.2, the bulk grain is at its highest
possible level.
• The term filled compartment, untrimmed, refers to 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 by the provisions of
A 10.3.1 for all ships or A 10.3.2 for specially suitable compartments.
• The term partly filled compartment refers to any cargo space wherein the bulk
grain is not loaded in the manner prescribed in A 2.2 or A 2.3.
ANGLE OF FLOODING
The term angle of flooding means the
angle of heel at which openings in the hull,
superstructures or deckhouses, which
cannot be closed weathertight, immerse. In
applying this definition, small openings
through which progressive flooding cannot
take place need not be considered as open.
ANGLE OF FLOODING
After loading, the master shall ensure that
the ship is upright before proceeding to
sea.
Where:
λ0 =
Stowage factor = volume per unit weight of
grain cargo
Displacement = weight of ship, fuel, fresh
water, stores etc. and cargo.
STOWAGE FACTOR
The term stowage factor, for the
purposes of calculating the grain heeling
moment caused by a shift of grain, means
the volume per unit weight of the cargo as
attested by the loading facility, i.e. no
allowance shall be made for lost space
when the cargo space is nominally filled.
SPECIALLY
SUITABLE
COMPARTMEN
T The term specially suitable
compartment refers to a cargo space
which is constructed with at least two
vertical or sloping, longitudinal, grain-
tight divisions which are coincident with
the hatch side girders or are so positioned
as to limit the effect of any transverse shift
of grain. If sloping, the divisions shall have
an inclination of not less than 30° to the
horizontal.
PREPARING HOLDS FOR THE
RECEPTION OF GRAIN
CARGOES
PREPARING HOLDS FOR THE
RECEPTION OF GRAIN
CARGOES
Preparing Cargo Holds for loading Grain depends on the previous cargo.
1. Cargo Holds must be thoroughly cleaned and dry and trace of previous cargo in frames,
beams, girders, and other structure.
2. There should not be any loose rust and or paint scale anywhere in the Cargo Holds,
Bulkheads, upper and lower hopper spaces, underneath of Hatch Covers and tank top.
3. There should not be traces of live & dead insect & weevils.
4. Bilge covers should be cleaned of any cargo residues and have enough drain holes. Bilge
cover needs to be grain tight but not watertight.
5. Bilge well should be cleaned of previous cargo dray and odour free.
6. Bilge suction should be operational at all the times.
APPROVED GRAIN LOADING
METHODS
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.
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 sauce ring, 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.
APPROVED GRAIN LOADING
METHODS
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).
TRIMMING OF BULK GRAIN
CARGOES
TRIMMING OF BULK GRAIN
CARGOES
Trimming a cargo reduces the likelihood of the cargo shifting and minimizes the air
entering the cargo. Air entering the cargo could lead to spontaneous heating. To minimize
these risks, cargoes shall be trimmed reasonably level, as necessary.
Cargo spaces shall be as full as practicable without resulting in excessive loading on the
bottom structure or ’tween-deck to prevent sliding of a solid bulk cargo. Due consideration
shall be given to the amount of a solid bulk cargo in each cargo space, taking into account
the possibility of shifting and longitudinal moments and forces of the ship. Cargo shall be
spread as widely as practicable to the boundary of the cargo space. Alternate hold loading
restrictions, as required by SOLAS chapter XII, may also need to be taken into account.
The master has the right to require that the cargo be trimmed level, where there is any
concern regarding stability based upon the information available, taking into account the
characteristics of the ship and the intended voyage.
SAUCERS
For the purpose of reducing the heeling
moment a saucer may be used in place of a
longitudinal division in way of a hatch
opening only in a filled, trimmed,
compartment as defined in A 2.2, except in
the case of linseed and other seeds having
similar properties, where a saucer may not
be substituted for a longitudinal division. If
a longitudinal division is provided, it shall
meet the requirements of A 10.9.
BUNDLING OF BULK GRAIN
As an alternative to filling the saucer in
a filled, trimmed, compartment with bagged
grain or other suitable cargo a bundle of
bulk grain may be used provided that:
1. The dimensions and means for securing
the bundle in place are the same as specified
for a saucer in A 14.2 and A 14.3.
2. The saucer is lined with a material
acceptable to the Administration having a
tensile strength of not less than 2,687 N per 5
cm strip and which is provided with suitable
means for securing at the top.
OVER STOWING
ARRANGEMENTS
Where bagged grain or other suitable
cargo is utilized for the purpose of securing
partly filled compartments, the free grain
surface shall be level and shall be covered
with a separation cloth or equivalent or by
a suitable platform. Such platform shall
consist of bearers spaced not more than 1.2
m apart and 25 mm boards laid thereon
spaced not more than 100 mm apart.
Platforms may be constructed of other
materials provided they are deemed by the
Administration to be equivalent.
FEEDERS
It may be assumed that under the influence
of ship motion underdeck voids will be
substantially filled by the flow of grain
from a pair of longitudinal feeders provided
that:
• the feeders extends for the full length of
the deck and that the perforations therein
are adequately spaced.
• the volume of each feeder is equal to
the volume of the underdeck void outboard
of the hatch side girder and its continuation.
 YOU CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES BY - C.J. Sparrow
PERFORMING, NOT
COMPLAINING