Hi P Rekhawar,

The size consists of a bulk cargo cannot be measured along three coordinates under routine conditions at affordable cost. It would require that the content of a single hold be divided into a large number of strata, that a set of primary increments be selected from each stratum, and that the size consist analysis of each increment be determined. This sampling protocol can be applied both at loading and at discharge but some size degradation is bound to occur when each stratum is either loaded or discharged. In this case, tests for spatial dependence can be applied along all coordinates.

It would make more sense in practice to divide the content of a hold into no less than four strata, to select a set of twelve (12) primary increments from a three by four matrix, to divide the set into a pair of interleaving subsets such that one consist of all odd-numbered increments (A-primary sample) and the other of all even-numbered increments (B-primary sample), and apply size consist analysis to A- and B-samples. This test program gives stats along the z-coordinate only. In contrast, testing the size consist of each primary increment gives stats along x-, y-, and z-coordinates.

Kind regards,

Jan W Merks ■