A fabric closure for an open side of cargo containers of the type having a plurality of side walls, one of which is open, a top, a bottom, said fabric closure comprising: (a) a cut and puncture-resistant, substantially waterproof, fabric panel formed of high-strength yarns made with fibers having a tenacity greater than about 20 grams/denier, the fabric panel having top and bottom edges and opposed side edges, wherein the top, bottom, and side edges of the fabric panel have means for attachment to the container side, top, and bottom walls adjacent the open end; and (b) a selectively closeable opening formed in the fabric panel for access therethrough, comprising: (i) at least one substantially vertical opening between the opposed side edges of the fabric having a length extending from a bottom edge of the fabric panel and extending to a point thereabove; and (ii) a fastener attached along adjacent edges of the length of the at least one substantially vertical opening; characterized in that, the vertical opening extends to a point adjacent to but spaced from a top edge of the fabric panel; (c) the fastener of the vertical opening is a zipper attached along the substantially vertical opening and is openable from the bottom upwardly and closeable from the top downwardly; (d) the selectively closeable opening formed in the fabric panel further comprises a substantially horizontal opening (223b, 223c) spaced from the top edge thereof, formed between adjacent edges of fabric, having a length extending across at least a portion of the fabric panel and intersecting the substantially vertical opening at the upper extremity thereof, and at least one zipper attached along the length of the substantially horizontal opening and is openable outwardly and closeable inwardly relative to the point of intersection; and wherein the vertical and horizontal openings in the fabric panel allow for access to the open side of the cargo container when open, and prevents passage of cargo items which may be stowed in the container around and through the fabric closure when closed. (a) a cut and puncture-resistant, substantially waterproof, fabric panel formed of high-strength yarns made with fibers having a tenacity greater than about 20 grams/denier, the fabric panel having top and bottom edges and opposed side edges, wherein the top, bottom, and side edges of the fabric panel have means for attachment to the container side, top, and bottom walls adjacent the open end; and (b) a selectively closeable opening formed in the fabric panel for access therethrough, comprising: (i) at least one substantially vertical opening between the opposed side edges of the fabric having a length extending from a bottom edge of the fabric panel and extending to a point thereabove; and (ii) a fastener attached along adjacent edges of the length of the at least one substantially vertical opening; characterized in that, the vertical opening extends to a point adjacent to but spaced from a top edge of the fabric panel; (i) at least one substantially vertical opening between the opposed side edges of the fabric having a length extending from a bottom edge of the fabric panel and extending to a point thereabove; and (ii) a fastener attached along adjacent edges of the length of the at least one substantially vertical opening; characterized in that, the vertical opening extends to a point adjacent to but spaced from a top edge of the fabric panel; (c) the fastener of the vertical opening is a zipper attached along the substantially vertical opening and is openable from the bottom upwardly and closeable from the top downwardly; (d) the selectively closeable opening formed in the fabric panel further comprises a substantially horizontal opening (223b, 223c) spaced from the top edge thereof, formed between adjacent edges of fabric, having a length extending across at least a portion of the fabric panel and intersecting the substantially vertical opening at the upper extremity thereof, and at least one zipper attached along the length of the substantially horizontal opening and is openable outwardly and closeable inwardly relative to the point of intersection; and wherein the vertical and horizontal openings in the fabric panel allow for access to the open side of the cargo container when open, and prevents passage of cargo items which may be stowed in the container around and through the fabric closure when closed.