Loading/Discharging Plan
The SOLAS VI/7 and BLU Code ship/shore plan concerns bulk carriers handling solid bulk cargo; other operations follow their specific regime, approved manuals, SMS and applicable procedures.
Operational Explanation
For a bulk carrier and solid-bulk terminal, SOLAS VI/7 requires a loading or unloading plan agreed by the Master and terminal representative, with applicable sequences and limits; the BLU Code provides operational guidance. Containers, liquid bulk and other cargoes follow different regimes, manuals and procedures.
Regulatory Reference
IMO — SOLAS VI/7, BLU Code A.862(20), as amended; MCA MGN 699, Annex B; SOLAS VI/2 — MSC.1/Circ.1475 (VGM). BLU is IMO guidance; also check national provisions making specific parts mandatory. Apply IMSBC to solid bulk cargo where relevant; grain follows the Grain Code.
The original BLU Code sets out agreement on the plan, cargo and ballast rates and ship/terminal communications (4.2), signature of revisions and lodging the agreed plan and changes with the appropriate port State authority (4.3). Read this base text together with subsequent amendments and applicable national provisions. IMO — A.862(20), 4.2–4.3.
Scope of Application
SOLAS VI/7 ship/shore plan: a bulk carrier loading or unloading solid bulk cargo at a terminal. For other ships and cargoes use the operating plan required by the specific regime, approved manuals, SMS and Company/terminal procedures. Use the loading computer where fitted and required for the ship and operation.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Identify ship, cargo and regime; check stability and strength at intermediate stages using the prescribed tools.
- Agree and sign the ship/shore plan before starting: sequence, quantities, rates, ballast and limits.
- Agree and sign revisions before implementing them; lodge the plan and amendments with the appropriate port authority under local arrangements. Lodging does not constitute third-party technical approval.
- For containers subject to VGM, receive the value in time for the final plan and before loading.
- Stop unsafe operations; reassess the deviation with the terminal before resuming.
Practical Example
A bulk carrier agrees sequences and rates with the terminal in the SOLAS VI/7 plan. A container ship instead prepares a preliminary plan and finalises it when VGMs arrive: a container without VGM is not loaded.
What Typically Goes Wrong
Applying the BLU model to every ship type or turning the loading computer into a universal requirement. The opposite error is treating VGM as necessary for any planning, instead of for the final stowage plan and loading.
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Ship/shore plan applied outside its scope | Wrong operating regime | Identify ship, cargo and applicable basis |
| Intermediate stages not checked with prescribed tools | Structural or stability limits exceeded | Use loading computer or other approved tools where required |
| Actual sequence departs from agreed plan | Conditions remain unevaluated | Stop, reassess and formally record the change |
What the PSCO Checks
Operational Tips
- Identify the plan version actually in use and communicate changes to those conducting operations.
- Check VGM scope: the guidance excludes containers on chassis or trailers driven on/off ro-ro ships on short international voyages. Do not extend this exception to all ro-ro traffic.
- Within its scope, VGM is a necessary condition, not an entitlement to loading: the Master retains discretion.
Preparation checklist
- Ship/cargo regime identified
- SOLAS VI/7 ship/shore plan available where applicable
- Structural and stability limits checked with prescribed tools
- VGM available for final plan and before loading
- Stop-work authority confirmed
FAQ
Related Topics
Last substantive revision of this page: 16 September 2026 · page fingerprint a9fb8f512ce3