Waterways - Hazardous Material Regulations

Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 100 through 185, govern the transportation of hazardous materials. The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) are found in Subchapter C, Parts 171 through 180. Everyone involved in the transportation of hazardous materials must be familiar with, and have current knowledge of, the HMR.

The CFR are structured by title, subtitle, chapter, subchapter, and parts. Part 176 covers the requirements for transporting hazardous materials by most commercial vessels, foreign or domestic, when in navigable waters of the United States. In addition to understanding the requirements covered in the HAZMAT General Awareness and Security Training course, vessel carriers and shippers must comply with additional regulations listed under Part 176. Exceptions may be found in 176.5(b).

IMDG Code

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code is a uniform international code for the transport of dangerous goods by sea and covers such matters as packing, container traffic and stowage, and segregation of incompatible substances.

You may consult the IMDG Code in place of Part 176 as long as you also follow the requirements listed in §171.12 and §176.11 of the HMR.

To learn more about Waterways HAZMAT visit our DOT Waterways HAZMAT Online Training web page.