Abstract: Practical flowmeter-draining method is created to determine the weight of visible water in imported iron ore fines at discharging port. In this method, total volume of visible water drained is determined by means of flowmeter. On-line sampling device of visible water is designed specially to obtain sample of visible water. Density of the sample and weight percentage of ore particles in the sample are determined in laboratories. Thus the weight of visible water in iron ore fines can be calculated. The representative sample of visible water is taken by using on-line sampling device, while boarding the ship and interrupting the discharge of visible water are not needed. This lays the foundation of the accuracy of new method|Imported iron ore fines|Determination of weight of visible

Key words: water, Flowmeter-draining method, On-line sampling device of visible water