Scrap quality inspection
Turkey is one of the largest importers of ferrous scrap in the world, and most of it arrives by bulk carrier at Iskenderun, the Marmara ports and Aliaga. At discharge, surveyors grade the cargo hold by hold and estimate foreign material, alongside the draft survey that fixes the weight.
Grades
Sales contracts name the grades and their mix, for example HMS 1 and HMS 2 in an 80:20 ratio. HMS 1 is heavier, thicker steel; HMS 2 includes lighter and thinner material. Shredded scrap is fragmented into small pieces. Other common grades are plate and structural (P&S), bonus or new production scrap, and rail. The surveyor estimates the share of each grade as the cargo is discharged and compares it with the contract.
Foreign material and oversize
Anything that is not steel scrap counts against the cargo: dirt, wood, rubber, plastic, concrete, non-ferrous metals, and pieces too large for the buyer's furnace or shears. The surveyor estimates the percentage hold by hold, sets aside and photographs notable items, and reports sealed containers, cylinders and other potentially dangerous objects separately, since these can lead to rejection.
Radiation checks
Scrap is checked for radioactive material on arrival at Turkish ports, and steel mills check again at their gates. A surveyor notes any alarm and how it was handled, since a radioactive find stops discharge and involves the authorities.
Hold-by-hold reporting
Quality is recorded per hold because cargo loaded at different times or from different suppliers can differ markedly. A good report gives, for each hold, the estimated grade mix, foreign material percentage, notable items with photographs, and the surveyor's overall opinion. The draft survey on the same call gives the weight, and the quality report gives what that weight consists of; price adjustments and claims rest on both.
Finding a surveyor
Choose the port on Portiva to see every authorized company there. To get quotes, send one request and we pass it to companies working in that port. Survey companies abroad looking for a local surveyor to attend on their behalf can use the attending surveyor request.