# Horizon Lines — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 05-0275
- **title:** Horizon Lines — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2005-11-21
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 05-0275 response to Horizon Lines concerning 176.400, 176.83.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0275.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0275.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0275
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050275.pdf
**body:**

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J.S. Department
f Transportatior
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Pipeline and
Administration
Hazardous Materials Safety
NOV 21 2005
Mr. Cliff Bartley
Ref. No. 05-0275
Horizon Lines
Blount Island
5800-1 William Mills Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32226
Dear Mr. Bartley:
This is in response to your October 24, 2005 letter requesting clarification of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask
for clarification of § 176.400(c), which requires Division 1.5 and Class 5 (oxidizers and
organic peroxides) materials to be stowed in a separate compartment or hold from any
readily combustible material during transportation by vessel. You ask if that section
applies to materials transported in a closed transport unit (CTU), as break-bulk cargo, or
The stowage restriction in § 176.400(c) applies to any Division 1.5 or Class 5 material,
regardless of whether it is transported inside a CTU or as break-bulk cargo. Thus, under
the HMR, any Division 1.5 or Class 5 material transported by vessel must be stowed in a
separate compartment or cargo hold from any readily combustible material. You are
correct that paragraph 7.1.11.1 of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
(IMDG Code) includes an exception from this stowage restriction for Division 5.1
materials in CTUs. Note, however, that in accordance with paragraph 7.1.11.4,
precautions must be taken to avoid the penetration of oxidizing substances into other
cargo spaces, bilges, or other areas that may contain combustible material. It is the
opinion of this Office and the United States Coast Guard that the exception in paragraph
7.1.11.1 of the IMDG Code would apply to Division 5.1 materials in a CTU stowed in the
same compartment or cargo hold as combustible materials in a CTU; however, under the
IMDG Code Division 5.1 materials, whether in a CTU or transported as break-bulk
cargo, may not be stowed in the same compartment or cargo hold with break-bulk
176.83 (f)
176:400
050275

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combustible material. Further, Division 1.5 materials are generally required to be stowed
in a separate compartment or hold from other cargo that is readily combustible in
accordance with paragraph 7.1.7.4.1.1.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.
Sincerely

<<<PAGE 3>>>

ZHONZON
Fichenlaub
October 24, 2005
$176.83(f)
§116.400
Mr. Ed Mazzullo
Director Office of Hazardous Materials
Vessel
Hazardous Materials Standards
USDOT / PRMSA / DHM10
05-0275
400 7 Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20590
Re: 49CFR176.400( c) Detailed Requirements for class 4, Class 5 and division 1.5 materials
Dear Mr. Mazzullo,
We, Horizon Lines, LLC, are a domestic containerized ocean transportation company. I am
49CFR176.400(c)" which states:
seeking understanding on the applicability to container shipments of the statement in
"No division 1.5 or class 5 )oxidizers and organic peroxides) material being transported by
vessel may be stowed in the same hold or compartment with any readily combustible material
such as a combustible, a textile product, or with a finely divided substance, such as a organic
powder."
My question is does this statement apply to containerized shipments?
Container stowage and segregation is generally done in conjunction with the tables of 175.83(b)
and 176.83(f) combined with the considerations of the detailed stowage requirements. In the
case of a class 5 and a class 8, the segregation is listed as "Separated from" which allows for a
minimum of 20 feet distance between the two incompatible classes but there is no indication that
the cargo must be stowed in separate hatches. It seems that the statement in 49CFR176.400(c)
was targeted towards break bulk cargo rather than containerized cargo.
The parallel detailed stowage reference in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code in
section 7.1.11.1 - 4 specifically excludes container shipment from the restriction. Section
7.1.11.1 of the IMDG code states:
"Except for cargo spaces for the stowage of cargo transport units, cargo spaces shall be
cleaned before oxidizing substances are loaded into them. Attention shall be paid to the removal
of all combustible materials which are not necessary for the stowage of such cargoes."
In discussing this matter with the U.S. Coast Guard, they seem to agree that this section does not
apply to containers.
1
Horizon Lines • Blount Island • 5800-1 William Mills Street • Jacksonville. FL 32226 • 904.757.8266 • www.horizon-lines.com

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CLINES"
• HORIZON
Please provide guidance on the interpretation of 49CFR176.400(c).
Thank you for your consideration of my question.
Sincerely,
Cliff Badly
Cliff Bartley,
Manager Hazardous Materials
2
Horizon Lines • Blount Island • 5800-1 William Mills Street • Jacksonville, FL 32226 • 904.757.8266 • www.horizon-lines.com
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