SAMPLING SERVICE

We provide sampling services from vessels for IHM companies for to prepare IHM manual inventory preparation services in the international or local.

For customers who have made agreements in Turkey or anywhere in the world, we are available to meet your requirements with our qualified HazMat Experts for sampling at any port or at sea.

We are happy to be your service provider for your sample, which is necessary to prepare the inventory because it is dangerous. Please contact our experts for the necessary detailed information.

The overall objective of any sampling activity is to obtain a sample which can be used for the targeted purpose i.e. to identify the presence or absence of HM contained in the equipment, systems, and/or areas on board a ship by suitable and generally accepted methods such as laboratory analysis.
Sampling and analysis should comply with specific national legislation where it exists and with international standards.
Due diligence should be exercised when undertaking any work on sampling and analysis. The sampling activity involves certain risks to personnel involved or to other persons on board. Therefore, sampling should only be undertaken by competent personnel i.e. IHM experts, with the proper use of suitable equipment. Furthermore, analysis of the samples should only be carried out by suitably accredited laboratories using qualified and trained personnel, suitable testing methods and the necessary equipment.
Sampling should be carried out in accordance with a pre-decided methodology and supported by an appropriate check plan.

SAMPLING METHODOLOGY

Standard working procedures for sampling (sampling methodology) should be established and agreed upon before the start of the sampling campaign. The sampling methodology should include the following:
Determine on a ‘targeted’ or ‘random’ sampling campaign or both. Targeted sampling should be applied where the presence of prohibited and restricted Hazardous Materials is assumed but cannot be recognized by analysis of the available documentation or visual checking. Random sampling may be applied where the presence of prohibited and restricted Hazardous Materials has been excluded by document analysis but either there are suspicions of existence of HM or there is a policy for performing random checks as a quality assurance procedure.

Targeted sampling should take place during the preparation of the IHM of an existing ship in accordance with the relevant procedure of the IMO guidelines except those which shall be classed as ‘Potentially Containing HM’ (PCHM).

Random sampling may be used as a quality assurance process and may take place for new ships during the design and construction stage, on existing ships during the initial preparation of the IHM along with targeted sampling or on any ship after the initial preparation of the Inventory

IDENTITY OF SAMPLER/IHM EXPERT

Preparation of a ‘visual/sampling check plan’ (VSCP) or of ‘random checking plan’ (RCP) as appropriate.

The estimated number of samples to be taken, the types of samples to be chosen and a description of or reference to the sampling method. As a general rule, the samples should be representative of the materials being checked and in sufficient numbers. As guidance the rule of 10% may be established meaning that roughly 10% of the components of any system identified for a sampling check 25 should be sampled. However, taking of samples and the number of samples to be taken should always be determined according to the professional judgement of the entity carrying out the HM survey and proper/pragmatic ceilings in the number of samples should be established per each product or system. Materials of the same kind may be sampled in a representative manner.

Selection of location (checkpoints), date of sample-taking and the overall duration of the sampling campaign. It should be noted that the sampling campaign may be adjusted and other sampling points may be identified during the survey according to the actual conditions on-board and in accordance with the professional judgement of the IHM expert.

A risk assessment for the HM survey using all the information available before the sampling (MD, SDoC, certificates, plans, diagrams, manuals, other information etc). This assessment should determine the existing risks (e.g. chemical hazards, electrical hazards, working in closed spaces, at heights or on operable machinery, noise, disturbing sampling, necessary PPE, decontamination and disposal

arrangements etc). The risk assessment should then identify the necessary precautions and safety procedures to be followed during the HM survey and sampling.
Labelling which gives detailed information or a specific sample code that cannot be removed easily. The sampling position on board may also be labelled with the same identifier. Marked-up ship plans and photographic records should be kept showing the location and extent of the sample.
Preservation of the integrity of samples during transport and storage (before analysis).
Close cooperation between the sampler and the accredited laboratory and establishment of quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures (e.g. appropriate sampling containers, blank samples, blind Samples etc). It is essential to consult with the accredited laboratory before sampling to ensure that the measurement methods available can meet the defined sampling needs.