3

Grain Stability Calculations

Jukka Määttänen and Jan Mattsson

1. I ntroduction
The I nternational Grain Code specifies how to determine the grain shift moment, and it sets the stability
criteria for ships carrying grain in bulk.

The purpose of the Grain Stability subsystem in NAPA is to:

• calculate grain shift moments

• calculate the allowable grain heeling moments
• determine whether a loading condition complies with the grain stability criteria
• create the tables needed for the loading manual

2. Basics of the grain rule

2.1 Grain shift moment
I n most holds, grain cargo cannot be loaded so that it perfectly fills up the compartment and no empty
spaces exist; there are usually some voids under the deck after loading. The cargo also settles during the
voyage, so that even if the cargo filled up the hold perfectly before the voyage, there may be voids during
the voyage.

When the ship heels enough, the cargo will slide towards the lower side, and the center of gravity of the
cargo will not be in the same place anymore. When the ship comes upright again, the load will not level
itself as a liquid would and the center of gravity is still off the original one.

© 2008 Napa Ltd NAPA User Meeting 2008