# United States Coast Guard — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 07-0010
- **title:** United States Coast Guard — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2007-03-09
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 07-0010 response to United States Coast Guard concerning 176.65, 176.83.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0010.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0010.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0010
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070010.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

MAR
9 2007
Wash ngton, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Hazardous Materials Safety
Pipeline and
Administration
Mr. J.E. Pomajzl
Second Class Marine Science Technician (MST2)
Ref. No.: 07-0010
2760 Sherwood Lane Suite 2A
United States Coast Guard
Juneau, AK 99801
Dear Mr. Pomajzl:
This is in response to your January 10, 2007 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to vessel stowage requirements.
Your questions are paraphrased and answered below:
Certain deck barges stow containers perpendicular to the center line (container entrance
facing either port or starboard on deck) versus parallel to the centerline as found on most
does the term "container space" still need to meet the definition found in § 176.83(f)(4)
container ships. For deck barges that stow containers perpendicular to the centerline,
which defines a "container space" as distance of not less than 6 m (20 feet, fore and aft or
not less than 2.5 m (8 feet) athwartship.
Al.
The answer is yes. Although the definition of "container space" in § 176.83(f)(4) is
based on the dimensions of a typical 20 foot container when in parallel with the keel, the
definition is a distance, 6 m (20 feet) fore and aft or not less than 2.5 m (8 eet)
athwartship.
Q2. Can the definition of "container space" change to 2.5 m (8 feet) fore and aft when the
containers are stowed on deck perpendicular to the centerline?
A2. The answer is no, the definition does not change when containers are stowed on deck
procedures at the discretion of the Captain of the Port (COTP), who must determine if the
perpendicular to the centerline. However, § 176.65 does allow for alternat ve stowage
alternative stowage procedures will insure a level of safety at least equal to that afforded
by regulatory requirement concerned.
Q3.
What method is used by the COTP to "insure a level of safety at least equal to that
afforded by regulatory requirement concerned?"
176.83
176.65
070010

<<<PAGE 2>>>

The COTP has the discretion to use any method when allowing an alternative stowage
to prevent a fire from spreading to other containers, if such an event occurs.
procedure. For example, the COTP may require fire resistant barriers between containers
this office.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact
Sincerely
Matth
Hattie L. Mitchell
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Homeland Security
U.S. Department of
Crmmander
United States Coast Guard
2760 Sherwoor Lane. Ste 2A
United States
Sector juneau
Juneau. AK 99801
Fax:
907 463-2455
907-46:
2445
Coast Guard
16703
Satterthunute
10 lan 200?
$116.83
MEMORANDUM
$ 176.65
vessel
From: 1E. PONNAL MST2 ESCO
Reply to
07-0010
Altn of:
USCG
1. E. POMAJZI.. MST2.
To:
PHMSA - OFACE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STANDARDS
Subj:
GUIDANCE REGARDING THE APPLIATION OF STOWAGE AND
STOWAGE
SEGREGATION REGULATIONS TO DECK BARGES WITH NON-STANDARD
Ref (a) Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Parts 100-185
1. As per Title 49 CFR. Part 105.20. 1 am seeking guidance on the following situation:
(container entrance facing cither port or starboard on deck) versus parallel to the centerline as
a. Certain deck barges in Southeast Alaska stow containers perpendicular to the centerline
found on most container ships (container entrance facing bow or stern).
container space" still need to meet the definition found in Title 49 CFR. Part 176.83(D(+) which
b. For deck barges that stow containers perpendicular to the conterline. does the term
than 2.5m (8 feet) athwartship? Can the definition of container space change to 2.5m (8 feet)
states a container space means a distance of not less than 6m (20 feet) fore and aft or not less
fore and aft when the containers are stowed on deck perpendicular to the centerlin:?
Part 176.65? Iask this bec rose if the definition of a container space is fixed at on (20 fee:) than
c. What method is used to determine an 'equivalent level of safety" as found in Title 40 CFR.
shippers in Southeast Alaska may run into compliance difficulties and need to develop different
solutions to stowage problems on barges that carry containers perpendicular to the conterline.
problem based on a real incident Coast Guard inspectors found. If you require fur her
ZAny guidance on this would be appreciatedT have enclosed an dxample of the slowage
clarification of the problem, please call me at (907) 463-2454. Thank you.
#

<<<PAGE 4>>>

Boul
Red / Dark Color represent hazardous containers
Example of Acceptable
PORT
compartment or hold from" stowage. 1 container space
"Separated From" & "Separate by a complete
separation required and not in the same vertical stack.
STARBOARD
32'
4
compartment or hold from" This requires four container
"Separated longitudinally by an intervening complete
spaces of separation. Must be stowed on deck.
DOT: 011505 c is ajace lanes reguis are spanion segretainers with
Tegula sons are mastied every year by the urinat gorariment a the actual 49 FR
requirements
supersedes anything printed in this diagram
STERN
-

<<<PAGE 5>>>

Chapter 6
Barge Segregation of Hazardous Materials
hazardous material per section 176.83. The table below shows the segregation requirements for placarded
We are required to provide segregation or separation between containers when they contain some classes of
sticker (DOT-E 11503) adjacent to the placard it is exempt from segregation requirements. If there is not an
hazardous containers when stowed on a barge. Note that if a container has a placard and a DOT exemption
exemption sticker it must be segregated as required below. Note that two containers of the same hazard
class are considered compatible and can be stowed together with no segregation between them.
(Segregation must also take account of a single sacondary hazard label, as required by paragraph (a)(6) of this rection.)
TABLE 178.83(b)—GENERAL SEGREGATION REQUIREMENTS FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Class
$.3
1:
4.3
5.1
5.2
8
9
Explosives, 1.1, 1.2,1.5.........
Explosives, 1.4, 1.6.........
Explosivos, 1.3......
Flammable gases 2.1.........................
Non-foxic, non-flammeble gases 2.2.......
* XXX*NN
*****××.
Flammable liquids 3..
Polsonous gases 2...................
Spontaneousty combustible substances 4.2....
Flammable solds 4.1 ............
Substances which are dangerous when wet 4.3.
XNNANDAAQOANNA 333
X-NAXNNXN-NXXXNAA
X-NG-NN-X -NN-NNWA
X-NNXNNX-X*XXXNAA
OX-CONCOONNARAD
Organic peroxides 5.2......
Oxidtzing substances 5.1 .......
Polsona.1.....
Radioactive materials 7....
Infectious substances 6.2.
Miscellaneous dangerous substances 9
Corrosives 8.
XANA NA
XXNOX~N.
xx-
closed. Below is the description of segregation required for each case. The stowage restrictions
For "On Deck" Barge Stowage Segregation refer to Table 176.83(f). Columns for closed versus
below are based on our interpretation of 49CFR. These regulation are modified every year by the
Federal Government so the current 49 CFR supersedes anything printed in this section.
1 & X = Requires no segregation.
not permitted.
2 & 3 = Separated by one container space horizontally and stowage in the same vertical stack is
4 = Requires 4 container spaces separation horizontally and must be stowed on deck.
(*') = Maintain 20' of separation unless compatibility groups are compatible as determined in
Table 176.144(a).
containing hazardous materials that we handle most often.
Below is a quick reference of segregation requirements for some of the containers
Non-flammable gas 2.2
Haz-Mat
Corrosive
Haz-Mat
8
None
Segregation Required
Non-flammable gas 2.2
Flammable gas
5.1
None
Flammable gas
2.1
2.1
corrosive
)xidizer
8
None
Flammable gas
2.1
Non-flammable gas 2.2
5.1
None
One container space
Oxidizer
5.1
"Corrosive
One container space
deck only.
Note: All Explosives Containers regardless of their classification must be stowed in first ier on
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- **body characters:** 7976
