Sampling
BENEDICT & RAYMOND provides fully compliant sampling services in accordance with ISO, GAFTA, and FOSFA international standards, ensuring that cargo quality, representativeness, and traceability meet the highest requirements of global trade. Our sampling operations support shippers, receivers, traders, insurers, and P&I Clubs by delivering defensible, audit-ready evidence of cargo condition and specification at every stage of the supply chain.
Our final reports include:
- Representative sampling techniques aligned with ISO 24333, GAFTA 124/130, and FOSFA contractual rules
- Primary, composite, and incremental sampling from holds, warehouses, silos, conveyors, barges, trucks, and shore installations
- Use of calibrated sampling tools (triers, spears, pelican samplers, automatic samplers, etc.) to ensure accuracy and repeatability
- Strict contamination prevention protocols, including equipment cleaning, sealed containers, and chain of custody documentation
- Sample reduction and preparation using ISO-compliant methods (riffle dividers, rotary sample splitters, homogenization)
- Sealing, labeling, and documentation in accordance with GAFTA and FOSFA evidentiary requirements
- Dispatch of sealed samples to accredited laboratories for chemical, physical, and microbiological analysis
BENEDICT & RAYMOND ensures that every sample collected is representative, traceable, and defensible, providing stakeholders with reliable data for contractual compliance, quality verification, dispute resolution, and claims handling.
Our methodology follows strict procedural discipline, including:
- Full sampling methodology
- Location and timing of sampling
- Equipment used
- Chain of custody records
- Photographic evidence
- Seal numbers and sample identification
- Compliance references to ISO, GAFTA, and FOSFA standards
This service provides clients with complete confidence in cargo quality verification, supported by internationally recognized procedures and BENEDICT & RAYMOND’s technical excellence.