# Horizon Lines, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 12-0201
- **title:** Horizon Lines, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2012-09-13
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 12-0201 response to Horizon Lines, LLC concerning 173.203.
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- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120201.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
SEP 1 3 2012
Mr. Cliff Bartley
Manager, Hazardous Materials
Horizon Lines, LLC
Blount Island
5800-1 William Mills Street
Jacksonville, FL 32226
Reference No.: 12-0201
Dear Mr. Bartley:
This is in response to your April 20, 2012letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). You note that for transportation by
water§ 173.203(i)(2) requites the minimum flash point, if 60 oc (140 °F) or below (in oc
closed cup (c.c.)) to be entered on the shipping paper in association with the basic
description. You ask whether this requirement applies to Division 2.1 flammable gas.
The answer is no. The definition of flash point as provided in§ 173.120(c)(1) is the
minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off vapor within a test vessel in sufficient
concentration to form an ignitable mixture with the air near the surface of the liquid.
Therefore, the HMR § 172.203(i)(2) requirement that for transportation by water, the
minimum flash point must be entered on the shipping paper, applies only to liquids. If the
material is appropriately classed as Division 2.1, the flash point does not apply.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
rr1~~·
Delmer Billings
Senior Regulatory Advisor
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

HORIZON
L I N E s SM
Friday, April20, 2012
Mr Charles Betts, ,
Director of Hazmat Standard$
Office Hazardous Materials Standards
USDOTPHMSA !
Attn: PHH-10 i
U.S. Department of Transportation, East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SB.
Washing, DC 20590-0001 \
Re: 49CFR172.203(i)(2) -
T~ansportation by water
Dear Mr Betts,
I
Our Company, Horizon Line$, LLC, is a domestic ocean container water carrier who ship
containerized cargo to offshore domestic locations. There is beginning to develop some
confusion in reference to 49dFR172.203(i)(2) as it applies to class 2.1 cargo. The regulations in
essence state that for carriagd by water, the shipping paper must include the flash point if the
!
cargo has a "Minimum flashpoint if60 °C (140 °F) or below (in oc closed cup (c.c.)) in
association with the basic de~cription".
l
The requirement to provide t~e flash point for class 3 flammable liquid cargos is a standard
practice in the vessel transpott:ation industry but there has developed some confusion as to
whether this requirement is t<} be equally applied to class 2.1 flammable gas cargo. The
regulations seems to indicate lthat this flashpoint requirement pettain to only class 3 flammable
liquid cargo based on the de.Qnition in 49CFR171.8 for the flash point as well as the reference
and information in 49CFR17$.120. A requirement for a flash point for class 2.1 also seem to be
in conflict with 49173.115 asjit defines class 2.1.
1
Please advise whether 49CF1172.203(i)(2) applies to class 2.1 flammable gas cargo.
I
Thank you for your help in t*s matter.
Regards,
'//;/c, ,l-
( ~/'i/'£LL1~j
. J
CliffB~ley
Manager Hazardous
Horizon Lines, LLC
Horizon Lines • Blount lslancJ • 1 Vv'HHan1 M1lis Street • Jacksonvn;e, FL 32226 • 904. ?5l.826e • www.hori.zon~Jines.conl
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