B777-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Airport
Approach to land on RWY 9 MEM.  On approach; requested roll to the end and inquired as to turn off direction for gate.  Tower approved roll to end and left turn off.  Left turn off of RWY 9 Tower directed Taxiway Victor to gate.  Turned onto Victor and I (First Officer) switched to Ramp Tower OPS to confirm gate.  While on that (Ramp) frequency; Tower instructed us to stop taxi.  I went back to Tower and acknowledged we had stopped taxi.  We were informed that a B777 was not authorized to taxi on Victor in that area and that the Company was sending wing walkers.  Airport OPS personnel and Company personnel arrived to escort us to gate.  In reviewing Airport info; cannot find reference for non taxi on Taxiway Victor; except for reference 'between Taxiway B and Runway 27 restricted to wingspans of 171 feet and 6 inches or less.'  I am not sure this point exists or it is written poorly.  Improved pilot awareness of taxiway restriction.  I have rolled out on 9 before; but always turned off right.  I was not aware of this limitation on Taxiway Victor.
I was jumpseating on flight. MEM ATC Tower Controller cleared aircraft to land on Runway 9. Crew queried turnoff instructions before landing. B777 aircraft; Tower instructed; cleared to roll out to end of 9; then instructed left turn off.  Captain turned left onto Taxiway V; Controller said stop; stated she made a mistake; they can't taxi on V. Captain and First Officer didn't respond; second directive to stop issued by ATC. Again crew missed transmission. I got the attention of Captain and told him to stop; First Officer was off on Company frequency; volume down on Tower frequency. Captain stopped aircraft on V without incident; ATC provided an Airport Ops vehicle for escort to gate down V taxiway; Company provided AMT crew as wing walkers; taxied successfully to gate.  Charts don't directly prohibit taxi on V between V1 and B. Not clear on charts. Clarify ATC prohibiting taxi of aircraft with wingspan above 171 on V between V1 and B.  Directly mark charts or issue NOTAM prohibiting taxi; if applicable.  Charts state 'Taxiway V between B and Runway 27 restricted to aircraft with wingspans 171 feet and 6 inches or less'--which is ambiguous; should state 2 points on V taxiway; not '27.'
B777 crew reports landing on Runway 9 at MEM and being instructed to roll to the end then left off and Taxiway V to the gate.  Once clear the crew is told to stop by the Tower and advised that Taxiway V is not suitable for B777 aircraft.  Wing walkers and a follow me truck are provided and taxi to the gate is completed.