Billing Code - PHMSA - Department of Transportation

stowage locations on board cargo and passenger vessels and column (10B) [Other
provisions] specifies special stowage and segregation provisions.
One commenter (SAAMI) noted that limited quantity shipments are assigned the
least restrictive stowage category and are excepted from additional stowage provisions in
3.4.3 of the IMDG Code and requested that PHMSA do the same. PHMSA agrees and is
amending § 172.101(k) to ensure that shipments offered as limited quantities are allocated
to stowage category A, and to note that such shipments are excepted from the other
stowage provisions indicated by codes in column 10B of the HMT for the material being
offered for transport as a limited quantity. PHMSA is simplifying the number of vessel
stowage locations for shipments of Class 1 explosive materials to harmonize with recently
adopted vessel explosive stowage categories in the IMDG Code. Currently, there are 15
possible stowage location codes available for assignment to column (10A) for explosive
shipments. Recent changes in the IMDG Code have reduced the number of available
explosive stowage location codes to five. This consolidation of codes was accomplished to
reduce the complexity of the regulations without compromising safety.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) determined that the term
“magazine” was no longer necessary and the magazine concept could be incorporated into
a broader definition for closed cargo transport units for Class 1 (explosives) material. In
general, a magazine used to store and transport explosives is equivalent to a closed cargo
transport unit with a wooden floor. A magazine type A has additional wooden walls, or
walls covered with wooden pallets, and is currently only assigned to 7 entries in the HMT.
A magazine type C is currently defined by a minimum distance to the ship’s side of 2.4 m
(8 feet). Requirements to load Class 1 closed cargo transport units a minimum distance of
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