4.3.1 To obtain the information required in 4.2.1, the
shipper shall arrange for the cargo to be properly sampled and tested. The shipper shall
provide the ship's master or his representative with the appropriate certificates of
test, if required in this Code.
4.3.2 When a concentrate or other cargo which may liquefy
is carried, the shipper shall provide the ship's master or his representative with a
signed certificate of the TML, and a signed certificate or declaration of the moisture
content, each issued by an entity recognized by the competent authority of the port of
loading. The certificate of TML shall contain, or be accompanied by, the result of the
test for determining the TML. The declaration of moisture content shall contain, or be
accompanied by, a statement by the shipper that the moisture content is, to the best of
his knowledge and belief, the average moisture content of the cargo at the time the
declaration is presented to the master.
4.3.3 When a concentrate or other cargo which may liquefy
is carried, procedures for sampling, testing and controlling moisture content to ensure
the moisture content is less than the TML when it is on board the ship shall be
established by the shipper, taking account of the provisions of this Code. Such
procedures shall be approved and their implementation checked by the competent authority
of the port of loading.footnote The document issued by the competent authority stating that the
procedures have been approved shall be provided to the master or his representative.
4.3.4 If the cargo is loaded on to the ship from
barges, in developing the procedures under 4.3.3 the shipper shall
include procedures to protect the cargo on the barges from any precipitation
and water ingress.
4.3.5 When a concentrate or other cargo which
may liquefy is to be loaded into more than one cargo space of a ship,
the certificate or the declaration of moisture content shall certify
the moisture content of each type of finely grained material loaded
into each cargo space. Notwithstanding this requirement, if sampling
according to internationally or nationally accepted standard procedures
indicates that the moisture content is uniform throughout the consignment,
then one certificate or declaration of average moisture content for
all cargo spaces is acceptable.
4.3.6 Where certification is required by the individual
schedules for cargoes possessing chemical hazards, the certificate
shall contain, or be accompanied by, a statement from the shipper
that the chemical characteristics of the cargo are, to the best of
his knowledge, those present at the time of the ship's loading. However,
it is important to ensure that the samples taken are representative
of the whole depth of the stockpile.