the stowage and breakout of material or in emergencies (e.g., fire, battle damage, etc.) or as follows: INSPECTION— Personnel  will  be  allowed  access to  stowage  spaces  for  purposes  of  inspection  as  directed by the commanding officer. Such personnel will not be given the keys to the spaces but will be escorted by responsible personnel as directed by the supply officer. ACCESS   FOR   DAMAGE   CONTROL PURPOSES—  Access  to  stowage  spaces  will  be authorized   to   damage   control   personnel   when performing  their  duties. Stowage spaces will not be secured in such a manner that access using ordinary damage  control  equipment  is  impeded  in  an  emergency. PERMISSION  FOR  ENTRY—  Permission  for entry of persons not ordinarily authorized access to stowage spaces will be granted by the supply officer or, in the supply officer’s absence, the commanding officer, executive  officer,  or  command  duty  officer. Private Use of Stores Public supplies may not be used by any individual except for emergency issues to persons in distress as authorized by NAVSUP P-485. Issues of material must be made only on authorized issue or transfer documents. Protection of Stores The   storeroom   Storekeeper   is   responsible   for proper  stowage  of  materials  to  protect  them  from damage  and  deterioration  while  in  storage. STOWAGE Materials   in   shipboard   storerooms   and   other stowage  areas  should  be  arranged  to: Make maximum use of space. Provide  orderly  stowage  and  ready  accessibility. Prevent  damage  to  the  ship  or  injury  to personnel. Reduce   the   possibility   of   material   loss   or damage. Facilitate the issue of the oldest stock first (i.e., by  first-in-first-out  (FIFO)  method). Facilitate  inventories These  requirements  and  other  instructions  in  this section  provide  basic  guidelines  which,  if  observed  with a  “common  sense”  approach,  will  help  storeroom Storekeepers  to  achieve  optimum  stowage  efficiency. 6-8 MATERIAL  IDENTIFICATION Material custodians will make sure that all items in stowage are legibly marked, tagged, or labeled with an NSN,  NICN,  or  other  identification  number.  When needed,  technical  assistance  from  other  departments should  be  used  to  determine  the  identification  numbers of unmarked materials. Items that cannot be identified will be turned in ashore for disposition. MATERIAL PROTECTION LEVELS Material   procured   for   the   Navy   is   provided preservation-packaging  and  packing  that  the  inventory manager feels will protect it from deterioration and damage  during  shipment,  handling,  and  stowage.  The protection levels specified to be code marked on unit packages  and  exterior  shipping  containment  are  described in the NAVSUP P-485. Shipboard  Responsibilities Since most materials received by afloat units were adequately packaged and packed before shipment, the ship’s  responsibilities  generally  will  be  limited  to: Keeping repair parts in their original packaging until issued Repackaging  and  repacking  items  that   were inadequately   or   improperly   protected   when received,  or  that  have  had  their  packaging  damaged or  removed  while  in  stowage Reporting material received in an unsatisfactory condition   due   to   inadequate   or   improper preservation, packaging, or marking providing  adequate  protection  of  ready  for  issue (RFI) materials and unserviceable mandatory turn-in repairable  to  be  transferred  to  another  activity (Refer to NAVSUP P-484, Supply Afloat Packaging Procedres.) LOCATOR SYSTEM The location of each item in stock will be recorded in its stock record and the Afloat Locator/Inventory Record, NAVSUP Form 1075, (if maintained). Each location  will  have  a  five-character  alphanumeric  (e.g., B0168),  designation  except  when  the  configuration  of the  stowage  area(s)  or  physical  characteristics  of  the material dictate an alternate system.