The Grain Code Just Changed: What MSC.552(108) Actually Allows

IMO Resolution MSC.552(108) amends the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk, entering into force 1 January 2026 — the first major change to the Grain Code's loading conditions in years.

The New Loading Condition

The amendment introduces an optional condition described as a "specially suitable compartment, partly filled in way of the hatch opening, with ends untrimmed." In plain terms: once grain cargo in a specially suitable compartment reaches hatch end beam level or above, the vessel can skip the time-consuming process of end-trimming that condition entirely — provided the compartment genuinely qualifies as specially suitable under the Code.

Who Can Actually Use It

Newbuildings with keel laid on or after 1 January 2026 are covered automatically. Existing ships can also apply the amended Grain Code to gain this loading flexibility — but only after their approved grain loading manual and loading computer have been updated to reflect it. A vessel can't simply start loading under the new condition because the regulation now permits it; the ship-specific paperwork has to catch up first.

Why This Is Worth Knowing Beyond the Cargo Office

End-trimming isn't just a loading-time cost — it's a shift stability consideration. Untrimmed grain surfaces at the ends of a partly filled compartment introduce a specific, calculable risk of cargo shift that the Grain Code's stability calculations are built to account for. Understanding when the new condition is valid, and when it isn't, is a genuine knowledge gap worth closing before it shows up as a surprise on a loading computer output.

Test Your Knowledge

Think you've got this covered? Put it to the test in Crew Connect's free Knowledge Checker — try a quick cargo round and see how you score.

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