33 CFR 126.27: General permit for handling dangerous cargo
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section issues a general permit for handling, storing, stowing, loading, discharging or transporting dangerous cargo (other than designated dangerous cargo) at designated waterfront facilities. The permit is conditioned on observing the listed conditions, including notice to the COTP for certain cargoes, segregation rules, and storage rules.
Applies toIt applies to dangerous cargo other than designated dangerous cargo, in bulk, portable tanks, containers, or packagings, at designated waterfront facilities.
What it says
The conditions set forth in § 126.15 must always be strictly observed.
33 CFR 126.27(a)“The conditions set forth in § 126.15 shall at all times be strictly observed.”
You must notify the COTP before you handle, store, stow, load, discharge, or transport the listed dangerous cargoes in the net weight amounts specified, except when they are in transport units or railroad or highway vehicles crossing the facility solely for transfer to or from a railroad-car ferry, highway-vehicle ferry, or carfloat.
33 CFR 126.27(b)“You must notify the COTP before you handle, store, stow, load, discharge, or transport, in the net weight amounts specified, the following dangerous cargo”
No Class 1 (explosive) materials, or other dangerous cargoes prohibited from or not permitted for transportation by 46 CFR part 148 or 49 CFR parts 171 through 179, may be present on the waterfront facility.
33 CFR 126.27(c)“may be present on the waterfront facility.”
Break-bulk dangerous cargo must be segregated according to 49 CFR 176.83(a) through (c), but no separation is required for break-bulk dangerous cargo in limited-quantity packaging.
33 CFR 126.27(d)“Break-bulk dangerous cargo must be segregated according to 49 CFR 176.83(a) through (c).”
Materials that are dangerous when wet (Division 4.3), water-soluble oxidizers (Division 5.1), and corrosive solids (Class 8) must be stored so they do not contact water.
33 CFR 126.27(h)“must be stored in a manner that prevents them from coming into contact with water.”
Dangerous cargo stored on the facility must be arranged in a manner that retards the spread of fire, such as by interspersing it with inert or fire retardant material.
33 CFR 126.27(j)“Dangerous cargo stored on the facility must be arranged in a manner that retards the spread of fire”
Class 7 (Radioactive) material must be stored as specified in 49 CFR 173.447.
33 CFR 126.27(l)“Class 7 (Radioactive) material must be stored as specified in 49 CFR 173.447.”
Common questions
Do I have to notify the COTP before handling dangerous cargo at a waterfront facility?
Yes, for the cargoes listed in paragraph (b) in the net weight amounts specified. An exception applies to cargo in transport units or vehicles crossing the facility solely for transfer to or from a railroad-car ferry, highway-vehicle ferry, or carfloat.
“You must notify the COTP before you handle, store, stow, load, discharge, or transport, in the net weight amounts specified, the following dangerous cargo”
Does the general permit cover designated dangerous cargo?
No. The general permit covers dangerous cargo other than designated dangerous cargo.
“dangerous cargo (other than designated dangerous cargo) in bulk, portable tanks, containers, or packagings”
How must corrosive liquids and liquid oxidizers be stored?
They must be handled and stored so that a leak from their packaging would not contact organic materials.
“they would not come in contact with organic materials.”
Must dangerous cargo stored at the facility be packaged and labeled?
Yes, if it is not intended for use on the facility. It must be packaged, marked, and labeled according to 49 CFR parts 171 through 180, as if in transportation.
“must be packaged, marked, and labeled according to 49 CFR parts 171 through 180, as if the cargo was in transportation.”
The text of 33 CFR 126.27
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
General permit for handling dangerous cargo
A general permit is hereby issued for the handling, storing, stowing, loading, discharging or transporting of dangerous cargo (other than designated dangerous cargo) in bulk, portable tanks, containers, or packagings, at designated waterfront facilities, conditioned upon the observance and fulfillment of the following:
(a) The conditions set forth in § 126.15 shall at all times be strictly observed.
(b) You must notify the COTP before you handle, store, stow, load, discharge, or transport, in the net weight amounts specified, the following dangerous cargo, except when contained within transport units or railroad or highway vehicles being transported across or on the waterfront facility solely for transfer to or from a railroad-car ferry, highway-vehicle ferry, or carfloat:
(1) Class 1, Division 1.3 and Division 1.5 (Explosive) materials, with a net explosive quantity in excess of 36,400 kg (40 net tons) at any one time.
(2) Class 2, Division 2.1 (Flammable Gas) materials in bulk packaging; or Division 2.3 (Poison Gas) materials in excess of 72,800 kg (80 net tons) at any one time.
(3) A Class 7 (Radioactive) material in a highway route controlled quantity, as defined in 49 CFR 173.403.
(4) Flammable solids or oxidizers, in excess of 100 net tons at any one time.
(5) Flammable gases, in excess of 10 net tons at any one time.
(6) Poisons (Class A).
(7) A bulk shipment of a cargo of particular hazard.
(c) No Class 1 (explosive) materials (as defined in 49 CFR 173.50) or other dangerous cargoes prohibited from, or not permitted for, transportation by 46 CFR part 148 or 49 CFR parts 171 through 179 may be present on the waterfront facility.
(d) Break-bulk dangerous cargo must be segregated according to 49 CFR 176.83(a) through (c). No separation is required for break-bulk dangerous cargo in limited-quantity packaging.
(e) Transport units and portable tanks containing dangerous cargo must be segregated according to 49 CFR 176.83(a), (b), and (f). The requirements for vertical segregation and for on-deck, horizontal segregation in 49 CFR 176.83(f) apply. No separation is required for transport units containing dangerous cargo only in limited quantity packaging.
(f) Break-bulk dangerous cargo must be segregated from transport units containing dangerous cargo according to 49 CFR 176.83(e).
(g) Solid dangerous bulk cargo must be separated to prevent the interaction of incompatible materials in the event of an accident. Cargo not required to be segregated, when in break-bulk form, is not required to be segregated, when in bulk form. Dangerous cargo in break-bulk form must be segregated from solid dangerous cargo in bulk according to 49 CFR 176.83.
(h) Materials that are dangerous when wet (Division 4.3), water-soluble oxidizers (Division 5.1), and corrosive solids (Class 8) must be stored in a manner that prevents them from coming into contact with water.
(i) Corrosive liquids (Class 8) and liquid oxidizers (Division 5.1) must be handled and stored so that, in the event of a leak from their packaging, they would not come in contact with organic materials.
(j) Dangerous cargo stored on the facility must be arranged in a manner that retards the spread of fire, such as by interspersing dangerous cargo with inert or fire retardant material.
(k) Dangerous cargo stored on the facility, but not intended for use on the facility, must be packaged, marked, and labeled according to 49 CFR parts 171 through 180, as if the cargo was in transportation.
(l) Class 7 (Radioactive) material must be stored as specified in 49 CFR 173.447.
Sections it refers to
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.