SOLAS Chapter VI, Part C requires cargo ships carrying grain on an international voyage to comply with the requirements of the International Grain Code. These requirements include the ship needing to have a grain loading manual approved by the Administration or a Recognised Organisation.
The IMO has now published amendments to the International Grain Code, which enter into force on 1 January 2026. Introduced by IMO resolution MSC.552(108), the amendments include a new loading condition for special compartments.
Grain Code loading conditions
The grain code currently includes the following loading conditions:
• Filled compartments, trimmed
• Filled compartments, untrimmed
• Partly filled compartments
The code amendments now define a new, optional loading condition:
• Specially suitable compartment, partly filled in way of the hatch opening, with ends untrimmed (see figure below):
What shipowners and operators should do now
Shipowners and operators should ensure that any ship planning to load grain as per this newly defined optional condition – “specially suitable compartment, partly filled in way of the hatch opening, with ends untrimmed” on or after 1 January 2026 has that condition included in its approved grain loading manual.
Approval of grain loading manual
Operators may submit their amended grain loading manual to Lloyd’s Register for review (or submit an addendum to the grain loading manual for review) ahead of 1 January 2026.
Source: Lloyd’s Register
