49 CFR 176.69: General stowage of hazardous materials on vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets general stowage requirements for hazardous materials on vessels. Hazardous materials must be stowed so they can be inspected and removed, and packages must be secured and braced. Some freight container and barge stowage has exceptions.
What it says
Hazardous materials, except as provided in paragraph (c) and except Class 9 (miscellaneous hazardous) materials, must be stowed so they can be inspected during the voyage, removed from a potentially dangerous situation, and removed as packages in case of fire.
49 CFR 176.69(a)“must be stowed in a manner that will facilitate inspection during the voyage, their removal from a potentially dangerous situation, and the removal of packages in case of fire.”
Each package marked in accordance with § 172.312(a)(2) of this subchapter must be stowed so it stays in the position indicated during transportation.
49 CFR 176.69(b)“Each package marked in accordance with § 172.312(a)(2) of this subchapter must be stowed as to remain in the position indicated during transportation.”
A vessel designed for and carrying hazardous materials in freight containers or in barges, and equipped with a fixed fire extinguishing and fire detection system, need not stow the freight containers or barges as paragraph (a) requires.
49 CFR 176.69(c)“the freight containers or barges need not be stowed in the manner required by paragraph (a) of this section.”
Freight containers or barges with hazardous materials stowed on deck need not be stowed as paragraph (a) requires if the vessel has on board fire fighting equipment capable of reaching and piercing the freight container or barge.
49 CFR 176.69(c)“if fire fighting equipment capable of reaching and piercing the freight container or barge is on board the vessel.”
Packages of hazardous materials must be secured and dunnaged to prevent shifting in any direction.
49 CFR 176.69(d)“Packages of hazardous materials must be secured and dunnaged to prevent shifting in any direction.”
Vertical restraints are not required if the shape of the package and the stuffing pattern preclude shifting of the load.
49 CFR 176.69(d)“Vertical restraints are not required if the shape of the package and the stuffing pattern preclude shifting of the load.”
Packages of hazardous materials must be braced and dunnaged so the dunnage is not likely to pierce them and a superimposed load is not likely to crush them.
49 CFR 176.69(e)“Packages of hazardous materials must be braced and dunnaged so that they are not likely to be pierced by the dunnage or crushed by a superimposed load.”
Common questions
Do Class 9 materials have to be stowed for inspection under 49 CFR 176.69?
No. The inspection and removal stowage requirement in paragraph (a) does not apply to Class 9 (miscellaneous hazardous) materials.
“(except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section and Class 9 (miscellaneous hazardous) materials)”
When are vertical restraints not required for hazardous materials packages?
Vertical restraints are not required if the shape of the package and the stuffing pattern preclude shifting of the load.
“Vertical restraints are not required if the shape of the package and the stuffing pattern preclude shifting of the load.”
How must packages marked under 172.312(a)(2) be stowed?
Each package marked in accordance with § 172.312(a)(2) of this subchapter must be stowed so it remains in the position indicated during transportation.
“Each package marked in accordance with § 172.312(a)(2) of this subchapter must be stowed as to remain in the position indicated during transportation.”
The text of 49 CFR 176.69
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
General stowage requirements for hazardous materials
(a) Hazardous materials (except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section and Class 9 (miscellaneous hazardous) materials) must be stowed in a manner that will facilitate inspection during the voyage, their removal from a potentially dangerous situation, and the removal of packages in case of fire.
(b) Each package marked in accordance with § 172.312(a)(2) of this subchapter must be stowed as to remain in the position indicated during transportation.
(c) If a vessel designed for and carrying hazardous materials in freight containers or a vessel designed for and carrying hazardous materials in barges is equipped with a fixed fire extinguishing and fire detection system, the freight containers or barges need not be stowed in the manner required by paragraph (a) of this section. When freight containers or barges containing hazardous materials are stowed on deck, they need not be stowed in the manner required by paragraph (a) of this section if fire fighting equipment capable of reaching and piercing the freight container or barge is on board the vessel.
(d) Packages of hazardous materials must be secured and dunnaged to prevent shifting in any direction. Vertical restraints are not required if the shape of the package and the stuffing pattern preclude shifting of the load.
(e) Packages of hazardous materials must be braced and dunnaged so that they are not likely to be pierced by the dunnage or crushed by a superimposed load.
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 April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.