INTRODUCTION

The purposes of this Code is to set forth the regulations, methods and assumptions to be used in the calculations which will ensure that a ship can safely survive the special hazards of carrying grain in bulk on an international voyage. The scope of the Code is limited to matters which relate to the intact stability of the ship. The Code does not relate to the following matters: damage stability, hull strength, fire safety, pollution prevention, matters pertaining to the individual safety of persons on board the ship, or matters pertaining to the satisfactory out-turn of the cargo.

These items are not unique to the carriage of grain and must be considered by the owners and the master in the context of the regulations, instructions, or responsibilities which are otherwise applicable.

Part C of chapter VI of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, deals with the carriage of grain in bulk and is reproduced in full:

"PART C.
CARRIAGE OF GRAIN

Regulation 8.
Definitions

For the purposes of this part, unless expressly provided otherwise:

1. "International Grain Code" means the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization by resolution MSC.23(59) as may by amended by the Organization, provided that such amendments are adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures applicable to the Annex other than chapter I.

2. The term "grain" includes 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.

Regulation 9.
Requirements for cargo ships carrying grain

1. In addition to any other applicable requirements of the present regulations, a cargo ship carrying grain shall comply with the requirements of the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk, and hold a document of authorization as required by that Code. For the purpose of this regulation, the requirements of the Code shall be treated as mandatory.

2. A ship without such a document shall not load grain until the master satisfies the Administration, or the Contracting Government of the port of loading on behalf of the Administration, that the ship will comply with the requirements of the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in its proposed loaded condition."

When using the Code, care should be taken to ensure that it is the latest edition. If changes to the Code are found to be necessary, they shall be made in accordance with the amendment procedures in article VIII of the Convention.

PART A.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

1. APPLICATION

1.1 This Code applies to ships regardless of size, including those of less than 500 tons gross tonnage, engaged in the carriage of grain in bulk, to which part C of chapter VI of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended, applies.

2. DEFINITIONS

2.1 The term "grain" covers wheat, maize (corn), cats, rye, barley, rice, pulses, seeds and processed forms thereof, whose behavior is similar to that of grain in its natural state.

2.2 The term "filled compartment, trimmed" refers to any cargo space in which, after loading and trimming as required under A10.2, the bulk grain is at its highest possible level.

2.3 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 A10.3.1 for all ships, or A10.3.2 for specially suitable compartments.

2.4 The term "partly filled compartment" refers to any cargo space wherein the bulk grain is not loaded in the manner prescribed in A2.2 or A2.3.

2.5 The term "angle of flooding" (θ₁) 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.

2.6 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.

2.7 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.

Date: 2014-12-21; view: 934