A running sample is taken when?

• A. Before loading
• B. During loading/discharge without stopping
• C. After stripping
• D. After discharge

Answer: (B)

Running samples are taken during cargo transfer to monitor the cargo’s condition as it moves from one place to another. The key idea is to capture the current composition and quality while the transfer is in progress, so the sample reflects what the cargo actually is during the operation, not just its state at a single moment before or after.

That’s why the best choice is to sample during loading or discharge without stopping. Taking a sample while the flow is ongoing provides real-time insight into how the cargo behaves during transfer, including any mixing with tank residue, batch-to-batch variability, or contamination that could alter properties or compliance. If you sample only before loading or after discharge (or after stripping), you’d miss the dynamic changes happening during the transfer, and you’d be making decisions based on conditions that aren’t representative of the current operation.