CHAPTER 3
STOWAGE
Stowage is the assembly of material from various sources held and protected in the warehouse or storeroom until needed. Materials stowed in various storerooms aboard ship must be arranged to:

make sure of maximum use of available space, provide orderly stowage and ready accessibility, prevent damage to the ship or injury to personnel, prevent damage to materials,make it easier to issue the oldest stock first using the first in, first out (FIFO) method, and make it easier to conduct an inventory.

The effective arrangement of materials in storerooms aboard ships begins with the person in charge of the storeroom and continues up the chain of command. Storerooms aboard ship will not be the same size and each storeroom will present a different problem when you are arrang-ing stock. Some storerooms may be difficult to get to because they are in small, out of the way spaces. Many storerooms may have frames, pipes, stanchions, and other obstacles that may interfere with your stowage plans. This is why you often have to change your plans for arranging stock in
different storerooms.

BULK STOREROOM STOWAGE
Ship's store storerooms are referred to as bulk storerooms. They are designated Group III spaces when materials intended for resale are stowed in them. Group III spaces must be secured according to procedures discussed in chapter 1. The person in charge of the bulk storeroom( s) is referred to as the bulk storeroom custodian and . is responsible to the ship's store officer for all material in his or her space( s). The bulk storeroom custodian accepts responsibility for this material, once he or she signs the receipt document and accepts custody of the material. Materials stowed in the ship's store bulk storeroom must be limited to ship's store and standard Navy clothing stock. Any other articles not in the custody of the bulk storeroom custodian must not be stowed in the same storeroom. If an emergency exists, the commanding officer may authorize, in writing, for articles to be stowed in the same storeroom as ship's store and standard Navy clothing stock. Once the emergency passes, articles will be stowed in a separate space.

RESPONSIBILITY OF BULK STOREROOM CUSTODIANS
The ship's store officer is required to assign the responsibilities of the bulk storeroom custodian in writing. Once the persons assigned understand their responsibilities and accept them, they are then responsible to the ship's store officer for performing their duties properly. The bulk storeroom custodian's primary responsibility is the proper stowage, security, financial accountability, receipt, and expenditure of all stock in the bulk storeroom. The bulk storeroom custodian will receive and issue stock to various ship's store activities once the proper paper work is received. The custodian is also responsible for the protection of stores from damage or deterioration and is the only person who will have access to the bulk storeroom except under emergency entry procedures discussed in chapter 1 of this manual. The custodian must keep stock arranged in the storeroom so breakouts, issues, inventories, and so forth, are easier to 55accomplish. Figure 3-1 shows a Ship's Serviceman arranging stock in the bulk storeroom.