A321
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Human-Machine Interface; Other / Unknown; Time Pressure
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Company Policy; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Manuals
During passenger boarding there was confusion regarding the carriage of batteries in overhead compartment in passenger cabin. Initially batteries were thought not to be allowed. CSM (Customer Service Manager) was very concerned that the passenger required them for a mobility device. He stated that we carry them all the time in cabin and he was certain that they are permitted. After discussing situation with gate agent; supervisor; Dispatch; and CSM a reference was found in manual leading me to believe that batteries were allowed in cabin. Flight eventually departed late and was otherwise uneventful. Having time the following morning I looked deeper into FOM. The table in FOM which led me to agree with all involved that batteries were permissible has a hyperlink. The link leads to more information stating that the batteries were not allowed. Both gate agent supervisor and CSM stated that [Company] allows these batteries in the passenger cabin and that we carry them all the time. The passenger carried these on a prior flight the same day from ZZZ1.  [Captain suggests] FOM could be written more clearly without having to jump around reference to reference to obtain the proper information. Agents should be made aware these items are not allowed to be carried in passenger cabin.
A-321 Captain reported a need for clear definitive Hazmat policy to avoid ambiguities which exist among FOM; company publications and SOP regarding carriage of batteries in the passenger cabin.