Insights · Technical
Grain Code 2026: the new partly filled condition and your grain loading manual
A fourth loading condition can save trimming at the loading port, but only with an approved addendum and an updated loading computer.
Amendments to the International Grain Code, adopted by resolution MSC.552(108), took effect on 1 January 2026 for new and existing ships. They add a fourth loading condition to the three the Code already recognised.
The new condition
The new condition is a “specially suitable compartment, partly filled in way of the hatch opening, with ends untrimmed”. The hold is not filled to capacity in way of the hatch, but at least to the bottom edge of the hatch end beams. Only the grain surface in way of the hatch is levelled; the ends may be left untrimmed, provided the grain loading manual includes the corresponding heeling moments.
The heeling moments for this condition assume the grain at the untrimmed ends lies at a 30-degree slope, and the transverse heeling moment is multiplied by 1.12 to allow for vertical shift of the grain.
Who gains
Mainly ships that often cannot load to full capacity, where trimming the ends of partly filled holds costs time at the loading port.
What it takes to use it
- A revised grain loading manual, or an addendum, with the grain heeling moment and volume curves for the new condition, in graphs and tables.
- Approval by the flag Administration, or a recognized organization on its behalf.
- An update of the loading computer, where it is used for grain stability, and its re-approval.
Loading ports are expected to check that the manual on board matches the condition the ship is loaded in. A ship without the approved addendum keeps loading under the existing conditions.
How we help
We calculate the heeling moments and volume curves for each hold from the ship’s data, prepare the addendum in the format of the existing manual, submit it for approval and coordinate the loading computer update with its maker.