49 C.F.R. Subpart O—Detailed Requirements for Cotton and Vegetable Fibers, Motor Vehicles, and Asbestos
Title 49 - Transportation
Source: Amdt. 176–30, 55 FR 52708, Dec. 21, 1990, unless otherwise noted.
(a) Cotton, Class 9, NA 1365, Cotton, wet, Division 4.2, UN 1365, and other vegetable fibers, Division 4.1, being transported on a vessel must be securely baled and bound. Each bale of cotton or vegetable fibers must be covered with bagging on at least three-fourths of its surface, including both ends. Cut cotton linters may be accepted for transportation by vessel when baled and covered with bagging on the soft sides only if the bale is compressed to a density of at least 512 kg/m3 (32 pounds per cubic foot) and it is bound with at least six bands per bale. Any poorly compressed bale or any bale having damaged bindings may not be transported by vessel. (b) Each bale of Cotton, wet, Division 4.2, UN 1365 must be stowed separately from any bales of dry cotton or vegetable fibers, in a 'tween deck space, and not overstowed. Any bale of cotton or vegetable fibers which is saturated with water may not be transported by vessel. (c) Bales of cotton or vegetable fibers showing contact with oil or grease may not be accepted for transportation by vessel. (d) Cotton or vegetable fibers must be stowed in a hold or compartment in accordance with the following requirements: (1) All traces of oil or residue in the hold or compartment must be removed; (2) A recently painted hold or compartment may not be used unless it is thoroughly dry; (3) Each ventilation cowl serving the hold or compartment must be fitted with a spark screen; (4) When a bulkhead of the hold or compartment is common with a boiler room, engine room, coal bunker, or galley and subjected to heat, a wooden bulkhead must be erected between the bulkhead and any cotton or vegetable fibers. This wooden bulkhead must be at least 15 cm (6 inches) from a boiler room bulkhead, and at least 5 cm (2 inches) from an engine room, coal bunker, or galley bulkhead; (5) Each 'tween deck hatch must be closed with hatch covers, tarpaulins, and dunnage; however, metal hatch covers which are sealed by other means to provide equivalent protection may be used; (6) Each hold or compartment must be equipped with a carbon dioxide or overhead water sprinkler system or other approved fixed extinguishing system. Before loading, the extinguishing system must be examined to ensure that it is in good working condition; and (7) Each hold or compartment must be clear of all debris and swept as clean as practicable before loading. (e) Naked lights or any fire likely to produce sparks are not permitted on the vessel, dock area, or on any lighters alongside a vessel during loading or unloading of cotton or vegetable fibers. (f) Upon completion of stowage, each opening must be completely closed. Where required, tarpaulins must be fitted and secured in place to provide a tight hold. During a period of temporary stoppage of loading or unloading, a hatch may be left open. However, during that period, a fire watch, designated by the master or officer-in-charge, must be stationed in the hold or compartment in which the cotton or vegetable fibers are stowed. (g) At least one fire hose must be connected while cotton or vegetable fibers are being loaded or unloaded. Each fire pump must be operated before any loading or unloading. Pressure must be maintained on each fire main during the loading and the fire hose laid out ready for immediate use. Portable fire extinguishers must be placed to be readily available. The fire hose, fire pumps, and fire extinguishers may be the vessel's equipment or shore equipment. (h) Smoking is not permitted on a vessel during the loading or unloading of cotton or vegetable fibers except at those times and in those places designated by the master. “NO SMOKING” signs must be conspicuously posted in appropriate places, and the responsible person in charge of the loading or unloading (see §176.57 of this part) must ensure that they are observed. (i) Cotton or vegetable fibers may be stowed in the same hold over bulk sulfur if the sulfur has been trimmed and leveled and the hold is thoroughly cleaned of sulfur dust. A tight floor of two layers of 2.54 cm (1 inch) crossed clean dunnage boards must be laid on the sulfur before cotton or vegetable fibers are stowed. These substances may be stowed alongside each other in the same hold if they are separated by a tight dustproof wood bulkhead. (j) Cotton or vegetable fibers may not be stowed in a 'tween deck hold over bulk sulfur in a lower hold unless the 'tween deck hold has been thoroughly cleaned of all sulfur dust and the 'tween deck hatch covers are in place and covered with tarpaulins and dunnage. (a) Unless impracticable, cotton or vegetable fibers being transported on a vessel may not be stowed in the same hold or compartment with rosin or pitch being transported on the same vessel. (b) When separate stowage is impracticable, the cotton or vegetable fibers may be stowed in the same hold or compartment with rosin or pitch if they are separated by clean dunnage or a cargo of a non-combustible nature. When such stowage within the same hold or compartment involves large amounts of cotton or fibers or of rosin or pitch, the rosin or pitch must be floored off with at least two layers of 2.54 cm (1 inch) dunnaging and the cotton or vegetable fibers stowed above. Cotton or vegetable fibers being transported on a vessel may not be stowed in the same hold with coal. They may be stowed in adjacent holds if the holds are separated by a tight steel bulkhead and the cotton or vegetable fibers are dunnaged at least 5 cm (2 inches) off the bulkhead. Cotton or vegetable fibers may be stowed in a hold above or below one in which coal is stowed if there is a tight steel intervening deck and all hatch covers are in place and covered with tarpaulins. (a) A motor vehicle or any mechanized equipment powered by an internal combustion engine is subject to the following requirements when carried as cargo on a vessel: (1) Before being loaded on a vessel, each motor vehicle or mechanical equipment must be inspected for fuel leaks and identifiable faults in the electrical system that could result in short circuit or other unintended electrical source of ignition. A motor vehicle or mechanical equipment showing any signs of leakage or electrical fault may not be transported. (2) The fuel tank of a motor vehicle or mechanical equipment powered by liquid fuel may not be more than one-fourth full. (3) Whenever possible, each vehicle or mechanical equipment must be stowed to allow for its inspection during transit. (4) Motor vehicles or mechanical equipment may be refueled when necessary in the hold of a vessel in accordance with §176.78. (5) When a motor vehicle or mechanical equipment with fuel in its tanks is stowed in a closed freight container, a warning, displayed on a contrasting background and readily legible from a distance of 8 m (26 feet), must be affixed to the access doors to read as follows: WARNING—MAY CONTAIN EXPLOSIVE MIXTURES WITH AIR—KEEP IGNITION SOURCES AWAY WHEN OPENING (6) A motor vehicle or mechanical equipment's ignition key may not be in the ignition while the vehicle or mechanical equipment is stowed aboard a vessel. (b) All equipment used for handling vehicles or mechanical equipment must be designed so that the fuel tank and fuel system of the vehicle or mechanical equipment are protected from stress that might cause rupture or other damage incident to handling. (c) Two hand-held, portable, dry chemical fire extinguishers of at least 4.5 kg (10 pounds) capacity each must be separately located in an accessible location in each hold or compartment in which any motor vehicle or mechanical equipment is stowed. (d) “NO SMOKING” signs must be conspicuously posted at each access opening to the hold or compartment. (e) Each portable electrical light, including a flashlight, used in the stowage area must be an approved, explosion-proof type. All electrical connections for any portable light must be made to outlets outside the space in which any vehicle or mechanical equipment is stowed. (f) Each hold or compartment must be ventilated and fitted with an overhead water sprinkler system or fixed fire extinguishing system. (g) Each hold or compartment must be equipped with a smoke or fire detection system capable of alerting personnel on the bridge. (h) All electrical equipment in the hold or compartment other than fixed explosion-proof lighting must be disconnected from its power source at a location outside the hold or compartment during the handling and transportation of any vehicle or mechanical equipment. Where the disconnecting means is a switch or circuit breaker, it must be locked in the open position until all vehicles have been removed. (i) Exceptions. A motor vehicle or mechanical equipment is excepted from the requirements of this subchapter if the following requirements are met: (1) The motor vehicle or mechanical equipment has an internal combustion engine using liquid fuel that has a flash point less than 38 °C (100 °F), the fuel tank is empty, and the engine is run until it stalls for lack of fuel; (2) The motor vehicle or mechanical equipment has an internal combustion engine using liquid fuel that has a flash point of 38 °C (100 °F) or higher, the fuel tank contains 418 L (110 gallons) of fuel or less, and there are no fuel leaks in any portion of the fuel system; (3) The motor vehicle or mechanical equipment is stowed in a hold or compartment designated by the administration of the country in which the vessel is registered to be specially suited for vehicles. See 46 CFR 70.10–1 and 90.10–38 for U.S. vessels; (4) The motor vehicle or mechanical equipment is electrically powered by wet electric storage batteries; or (5) The motor vehicle or mechanical equipment is equipped with liquefied petroleum gas or other compressed gas fuel tanks, the tanks are completely emptied of liquid and the positive pressure in the tank does not exceed 2 bar (29 psig), the line from the fuel tank to the regulator and the regulator itself is drained of all trace of (liquid) gas, and the fuel shut-off valve is closed. (j) Except as provided in §173.220(d) of this subchapter, the provisions of this subchapter do not apply to items of equipment such as fire extinguishers, compressed gas accumulators, airbag inflators and the like which are installed in the motor vehicle or mechanical equipment if they are necessary for the operation of the vehicle or equipment, or for the safety of its operator or passengers. [Amdt. 176–43, 62 FR 24742, May 6, 1997, as amended at 65 FR 58630, Sept. 29, 2000; 66 FR 45384, 45385, Aug. 28, 2001; 70 FR 56099, Sept. 23, 2005]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 176—CARRIAGE BY VESSEL
Subpart O—Detailed Requirements for Cotton and Vegetable Fibers, Motor Vehicles, and Asbestos
§ 176.900 Packaging and stowage of cotton and vegetable fibers; general.
§ 176.901 Stowage of cotton or vegetable fibers with rosin or pitch.
§ 176.903 Stowage of cotton or vegetable fibers with coal.
§ 176.905 Motor vehicles or mechanical equipment powered by internal combustion engines.
