Fertilizer inspection
Turkey imports urea, DAP, MAP, potash, ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate, mostly through fertilizer terminals in the Iskenderun Bay, Aliaga, Samsun and the Izmit Bay. Fertilizer is sold on nutrient content, and it is sensitive to water and handling.
Physical condition
Before and during discharge the surveyor checks the cargo for wetting, caking and hard lumps, dust and broken granules, and contamination with the previous cargo or foreign material. Fertilizer absorbs moisture readily: a leaking hatch cover or condensation can turn the top layer into a crust that has to be broken up and may be claimed against.
Sampling and analysis
Samples drawn throughout discharge are divided for buyer, seller and umpire. The laboratory measures what the contract prices on:
- Nitrogen (N) for urea and ammonium salts.
- Phosphate (P₂O₅) and nitrogen for DAP and MAP.
- Potash (K₂O) for potassium chloride.
- Moisture and granule size distribution for all of them.
Ammonium nitrate
Ammonium nitrate is a dangerous good (oxidizer) and in Turkey is subject to special import, storage and handling permits. Surveys on it follow the port's dangerous goods procedures, and contamination with organic material or fuel is treated as a serious safety issue, not only a quality one.
Who can inspect
Fertilizers fall under customs chapter 31. Portiva shows on every port page which companies hold this chapter.
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.