1. Carriage of Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) on Commercial Vessels
LT Tim McNamara
Marine Safety Detachment Belfast

2. Background
Sector Northern New England has been made aware of commercial vessels; both inspected and uninspected carrying packaged hazardous materials (HAZMAT) in commerce while potentially not complying with all of the HAZMAT regulations found in 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Subchapter C ( ).
These regulations list HAZMAT and specify how they are packaged, labeled, and transported by rail, public highway, and vessel.

3. Take Home Points
Brief understanding of the applicable regulations when transporting packaged HAZMAT
Training requirements for vessel crew members
Different types of packaging you may see
Labeling and placarding awareness
Shipping paper, certificate, and dangerous cargo manifest
Coast Guard enforces the regulations
Regulations are complex; Coast Guard will answer your questions to become compliant, or guide you in the right direction

4. The Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Law
49 U.S.C. § 5101 et seq. is the basic statute regulating hazardous materials transportation in the United States.
Purpose: to “protect against the risks to life, property, and the environment that are inherent in the transportation of hazardous material in intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce” (emphasis added)
Gives the Secretary of Transportation the authority to:
Designate material as hazardous
Issue regulations for the safe and secure transportation of hazardous material

5. The USDOT Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR)
49 CFR 171 through 180
171 General information, regulations,
and definitions
172 Hazardous materials table, special
provisions, hazmat communications,
emergency response, training
173 Shippers and packaging
174 Carriage by rail
175 Carriage by aircraft
176 Carriage by vessel
177 Carriage by public highway
178 Specs for packaging
179 Specs for tank cars
180 Continuing qualification and
maintenance of packagings
Source: PHMSA, USDOT, July 2012.

6. Who Is Subject to the HMR?
All persons who:
Transport hazardous materials in commerce
Offer hazardous materials for transportation
Are responsible for HAZMAT safety
Persons who package HAZMAT
A number of vessels in our AOR carry HAZMAT brought onboard by passengers in non-bulk packages for personal use. Non-bulk packages are limited to quantities of less than 119 gallons for liquids and a water capacity of less than 1000 pounds for gasses. HAZMAT brought on board commercial vessels by passengers for their personal use is considered transportation in commerce and is subject to the regulations.
46 CFR Subchapter T applicability
Full wording from PHMSA source document, Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Law: An Overview:
The HMR apply to persons who:
• Transport hazardous materials in commerce (common, contract, and private carriers);
• Offer hazardous materials for interstate, foreign, and intrastate transportation in commerce (offerors, sometimes called shippers);
• Design, manufacture, fabricate, inspect, mark, maintain, recondition, repair or test a package, container, or packaging component that is represented, marked, certified, or sold
as qualified for use in transporting hazardous material in commerce;
• Prepare or accept hazardous materials for transportation in commerce;
• Are responsible for the safety of transporting hazardous materials in commerce;
• Certify compliance with any requirement under the Federal hazmat law; and
• Misrepresent whether he or she is engaged in any activity listed above.
In some cases registration of relevant parties is required (see 49 CFR 107 subparts F and G).
Source: PHMSA, USDOT, July 2012.

7. Exceptions from the Regulations
HAZMAT regulations do not apply to the transportation of combustible liquids (closed cup flash point at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit) in non-bulk packages.
HAZMAT regulations do not apply to commercial vessels less than fifteen gross tons unless the commercial vessel is carrying passengers for hire.
Commercial vessels may request special permits to be exempted from certain HAZMAT regulations. The Coast Guard Captain of Port is not authorized to issue these permits; they are issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Safety Administration (PHMSA). Vessel operators must follow the process in accordance with 49 CFR 107 in order to obtain a permit. 
Hazardous ship stores are not considered “in commerce” and must meet the requirements of 46 CFR 147

8. USDOT/PHMSA Hazmat Classification System
Class 1: Explosives
1.1 Mass explosion hazard
1.2 Projection hazard
1.3 Predominately a fire hazard
1.4 No significant blast hazard
1.5 Very insensitive explosives; blasting agents
1.6 Extremely insensitive detonating substances
Class 2: Gases
2.1 Flammable gas
2.2 Non-Flammable compressed gas
2.3 Poisonous gas
Class 3: Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Class 4: Flammable Solids
4.1 Flammable solid
4.2 Spontaneously combustible material
4.3 Dangerous when wet material
Class 5: Oxidizing Agents & Organic Peroxides
5.1 Oxidizer
5.2 Organic peroxide
Class 6: Toxic & Infectious Substances
6.1 Poisonous materials
6.2 Infectious substance (Etiologic agent)
Class 7: Radioactive Material
Class 8: Corrosive Material
Class 9: Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials
Essentially identical to the UN hazard classes.
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is an internationally agreed upon system set to replace the various classification and labeling standards used in different countries. Reference: "Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) - second revised edition,” United Nations, 2007.
Other regulatory agencies may have additional or supplementary classifications.
To assist emergency responders this list of hazard classes/divisions is provided in the 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook near the front, on p. 4.
49 CFR §173.2

9. Basic Requirements
The table in 49 CFR addresses the applicable labeling, packaging, stowage, and other requirements for each type of HAZMAT.
All HAZMAT must be labeled, placarded, and packaged in accordance 49 CFR 172 and 173 before being transported in commerce unless otherwise exempted.
In accordance with 49 CFR and , a commercial vessel accepting HAZMAT for transportation in commerce must first be provided with a Shipping Paper and Shipper’s Certificate unless expressly exempted in 49 CFR.

10. Training
All HAZMAT employees must be trained as required by 49 CFR 172 Subchapter H.
Onboard commercial vessels, HAZMAT employees are any licensed or unlicensed crewmembers who in the course of employment directly affect HAZMAT in commerce by: loading/unloading/handling HAZMAT, having responsibility for the safety of transporting HAZMAT, or preparing documentation related to HAZMAT.
General awareness, safety, security; initial and once every three years.
Employers can conduct their own training

11. What’s in the HAZMAT table?
Contains more than 3,000 proper shipping names of commonly shipped hazmat.
Contains 14 columns organized into 10 major headings.
49 CFR
Columns 1 – 5 Contain the information required for the basic description that is a key part of the shipping paper.
Column 2 provides the proper shipping name of the material.
Column 4 provides the UN identification number, and column 3 gives the hazard class or division (see next section on classification).
Symbols in column 1 (blank, or one of six symbols +, A, D, G, W, I), designate groups of hazmat with specific transportation requirements.
Source: PHMSA, USDOT, July 2012.

12. Packaging
In the HMR, “package” refers to the packaging plus its contents.
Non Bulk – Limited to quantities of 119 gallons for liquids and a water capacity of less than 100 pounds for gases
Examples of packaging
Fiberboard boxes
Drums
Portable tanks
Cargo tanks
Cylinders
Jerrycans
§171.8
Absorbent materials may be included in a container to reduce the potential for leakage from spills should they occur within a package.
Source: PHMSA, USDOT, July 2012.

13. Marking, Labeling, and Placarding
Each hazmat package, freight container, and vehicle must communicate hazard information as prescribed in the HMR.
Source: PHMSA, USDOT, July 2012.

14. General Marking Requirements
Durable
Written in English
Printed on or affixed to the surface of the package
Displayed on a sharply contrasting color background
Unobscured by other labels or attachments
Located away from other marking §
Source: PHMSA, USDOT, July 2012.

15. Source: PHMSA, USDOT, Chart 14.
§ requires labeling of specified (per the HMT, column 6) hazmat packages.
General rules:
Must be on both sides and both ends of the package
Must be visible, even after loaded on a rail car.
Source: PHMSA, USDOT, Chart 14.

16. General Shipping Paper Requirements
Legibility
Codes and abbreviations
Additional information
Multiple-page shipping papers
Continuously monitored emergency response telephone number
Documents and forms
Both the Shipping Paper and Shipper’s Certificate may be combined into one document.
UN1263, Paint, 3, PGII
Except for Hazardous Wastes there are no specific required forms.
Additional Shipping Paper Requirements
Continuous monitoring of emergency contact telephone number
Location on motor vehicles
Within driver’s immediate reach and readily visible
In a holder mounted to the inside of the driver’s door
Retention of shipping papers – carrier must retain for 2 years (3 years for hazardous waste)
(Previously the retention period was 1 year. See § (e).)
Source: PHMSA, USDOT, July 2012.

17. Shipping Description of the Hazmat
1-4 Basic description
5 Total quantity
6 Number and type of packages
UN1114, Benzene, 9, PGII
Source: PHMSA, USDOT, July 2012.

18. Shipper Certifications
Domestic: both wordings highlighted are acceptable.
Domestic
International
Source: PHMSA, USDOT, July 2012.

19. Dangerous Cargo Manifest
Commercial vessels must document HAZMAT onboard with a Dangerous Cargo Manifest (DCM). The DCM must be retained onboard the vessel for one year.

20. Commonly Transported HAZMAT in our AOR
Diesel Fuel- May be stored on deck or under deck on any commercial vessel. No other special requirements.
Gasoline- May be stored on deck or under deck on any commercial vessel. However the number of passengers is limited to the larger of 25 passengers or 1 passenger per 3 meters of vessel length.
Kerosene- May be stored on deck or under deck on any commercial vessel.
Propane- May be stored on deck or under deck on any commercial vessel. The number of passengers is limited to the larger of 25 passengers or 1 passenger per 3 meters of vessel length. Propane must be stowed clear of living quarters.

21. Special Requirements and Restrictions
Transport vehicles (bob-tail trucks, tank trucks, etc) containing HAZMAT may be transported on board commercial vessels subject to the requirements of 49 CFR , , and subpart E of 176.
Additional fire protection equipment and signage is required for vessels carrying flammable or combustible liquids, again please contact Sector Northern New England for details.
Before certain explosive HAZMAT may be discharged from, loaded on, handled or re-stowed onboard any vessel in the United States, the carrier must obtain a permit from the Captain of the Port in accordance with 49 CFR 107.
Inspected vessels must obtain an endorsement on their Certificate of Inspection (COI) prior to offering transportation of HAZMAT.

22. Other Regulated Materials (ORMD)
Small amounts of consumer commodities which would otherwise be subject to 49 CFR are reclassified as “Other Regulated Materials”. They are exempt from labeling, placarding, Shipping Papers, Shipper’s Certificate, DCM, and most other requirements.
HAZMAT that is packaged and distributed in a quantity and form intended or suitable for retail sale and designed for consumption by individuals for their personal care or household use purposes.
Contact Sector Northern New England for details

23. Questions or Concerns?
MA/NH border to Cape Porpoise, ME: LT Mike Metz, (603) x265 or
Cape Porpoise, ME to Owls Head, ME: LCDR Matt Capon, (207) or
Owls Head, ME to the U.S.-Canada border: LT Tim McNamara, (207) or
PHSMA maintains a HAZMAT Info Center where operators transporting HAZMAT can have their specific questions answered, we encourage you to also contact them at