scope:

These recommendations apply to transportation of API Spec 5L steel line pipe by ship or barge on both inland and marine waterways unless the specific requirement of a paragraph in this document references only marine or only inland waterway transport. Inland waterways are defined as: those waterways with various degrees of protection such as rivers, canals, intracoastal waterways and sheltered bays. These waterways can be fresh or salt water but are usually traversed by barges. Marine waterways are defined as: waterways over open seas with limited or no protection from wind, current, waves, etc. These areas are normally traversed by sea-going vessels. These recommendations apply to steel line pipe that is 2% in. OD and larger. (Exception: the recommendations of Section 3 as concerned with load stresses are exclusively applicable to API line pipe having diameter to thickness [D/t] ratios of 50 and more.) However, Pipe with D/t ratios well below 50 may suffer fatigue in transit under some circumstances, as noted in the Foreword.

These recommendations cover coated or uncoated pipe, but they do not encompass loading practices designed to protect pipe coating from damage. These recommendations are not applicable to pipe laying vessels or supply vessels. They must be considered as supplementary to the existing rules of governing agencies.

These recommendations are supplemental to shipping rules for the convenience of purchasers and manufacturers in the specification of loading and shipping practices and are not intended to inhibit purchasers and manufacturers from using other supplemental loading and shipping practices by mutual agreement.