Comprehensive cargo inspection services

Cargo can be exposed to quality, quantity and contamination risks at multiple points throughout the supply chain. Independent inspection helps verify cargo condition and provides assurance that agreed specifications and procedures are being followed.

Eurofins provides inspection and testing support during key operational stages, including:

Loading and discharge

Our surveyors provide oversight during cargo loading and discharge operations to help identify potential contamination, loss or handling issues.

Inspection activities can include sampling, measurement and documentation according to the applicable cargo, contractual and industry requirements.

Custody transfer

Independent inspection during custody transfer helps provide objective verification when responsibility for cargo passes between parties.

Our services can support quantity and quality verification and provide reliable analytical data for commercial transactions and dispute prevention.

Storage operations

Periodic inspection and quality testing can help monitor cargo condition during storage.

Our teams can support inventory monitoring, sampling and laboratory analysis to identify changes in product quality or potential contamination.

Independent cargo sampling and inspection

Accurate sampling is fundamental to reliable cargo inspection and laboratory analysis.

Our experienced surveyors use appropriate sampling techniques and established procedures to obtain representative samples for testing and quality verification.

Depending on the cargo and service requirements, inspection activities can include:

• Cargo sampling
• Quantity measurement
• Quality verification
• Loading and discharge supervision
• Custody transfer inspection
• Storage monitoring
• Sample documentation
• Inspection reporting
• Investigation of quality discrepancies

Independent inspection provides stakeholders with objective information to support cargo transactions and supply chain management.

Standards and technical requirements

Our inspection and testing services can be performed in accordance with applicable international and industry standards, methods and specifications.

Depending on the commodity and testing requirements, relevant standards may include:

• ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials
• EN – European Standards
• IP – Energy Institute
• ISO – International Organization for Standardization
• Applicable national and international standards and specifications

The appropriate test methods and inspection procedures are selected according to the cargo, contractual requirements, applicable specifications and intended use of the analytical results.

Cargo testing and laboratory analysis

Eurofins Maritime Services combines field inspection capabilities with laboratory testing to provide a comprehensive approach to cargo quality control.

Our laboratories are supported by experienced chemists, technicians and laboratory managers with expertise across multiple commodity sectors.

Advanced analytical instrumentation enables testing of a broad range of products, including fuels, crude oil, feedstocks, vegetable oils, biofuels and other commodity materials.

Oil, gas and fuel cargo testing

Our cargo testing capabilities can support quality assessment of petroleum and fuel products throughout the supply chain.

Services may include:

• Fuel oil testing
• Distillate testing
• Crude oil testing
• Feedstock testing
• Quality specification testing
• Contamination investigation
• Forensic analysis
• Cargo quality verification

Testing can help identify whether products meet specified quality requirements and support commercial decisions during loading, discharge, custody transfer and storage.

Vegetable oils, biofuels and feedstock testing

Eurofins Maritime Services provides laboratory testing for agricultural and renewable commodity products, including:

• Vegetable oils
• Biofuels
• Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)
• Used cooking oils (UCO)
• Oleochemicals
• Biofuel feedstocks
• Other feedstock materials

Testing can support quality control, specification verification, feedstock characterisation and investigation of potential quality issues.

Environmental and specialised testing

In addition to commodity testing, Eurofins Maritime Services can provide environmental testing and specialised analytical services to support cargo operations and related investigations.

Where a cargo issue requires more detailed technical evaluation, our specialists can help develop an appropriate analytical programme based on the nature of the product and the investigation requirements.

From routine testing to forensic analysis

Cargo quality requirements can vary significantly depending on the commodity, contract, supply chain stage and intended application.

Eurofins Maritime Services provides scalable testing solutions ranging from individual sample analysis to comprehensive laboratory programmes.

Our services can support:

• Routine quality control
• Specification verification
• Cargo acceptance testing
• Pre- and post-loading analysis
• Custody transfer testing
• Contamination investigations
• Quality dispute investigations
• Forensic cargo analysis
• Specialised analytical programmes
• Technical consultancy

Our analytical service managers can work with clients to identify appropriate testing requirements and develop programmes suited to their operational needs.

Supporting cargo quality and supply chain assurance

Independent cargo inspection and laboratory testing can provide valuable information at critical points in the supply chain.

By combining field inspection, representative sampling and laboratory analysis, Eurofins helps clients:

• Verify cargo quality
• Support quantity and custody transfer verification
• Identify contamination or specification issues
• Monitor cargo condition during storage
• Support commercial transactions
• Investigate cargo quality disputes
• Make informed operational decisions

Why choose Eurofins Maritime Services for cargo inspection?

Eurofins Maritime Services brings together inspection, sampling, testing and technical expertise to support commodity supply chains.

Our capabilities include:

• Independent cargo inspection and sampling
• Experienced surveyors and technical specialists
• Advanced laboratory analytical capabilities
• Testing across Oil & Gas and Agriculture & Food commodities
• Support for routine and specialised testing
• Internationally recognised testing standards and methods
• Technical consultancy and analytical programme development
• Quality and forensic investigation capabilities

Who can benefit from cargo inspection services?

Our cargo inspection and testing services can support:

• Ship owners and operators
• Cargo owners
• Commodity traders
• Oil and gas companies
• Agricultural commodity businesses
• Biofuel producers and suppliers
• Feedstock suppliers
• Storage terminal operators
• Importers and exporters
• Other organisations involved in commodity supply chains