46 CFR § 160.115-23 - Procedure for approval of design or material change.

(a) Each change in design, material, or construction from the plans approved under 46 CFR 159.005–13 and § 160.115–13(h) of this subpart must be approved by the Commandant before being used in any production winch. The manufacturer must submit any such change following the procedures in § 160.115–9 of this subpart, but documentation on items that are unchanged from the plans approved under 46 CFR 159.005–13 and § 160.115–13(h) of this subpart need not be resubmitted.

(b) Unless determined by the Commandant to be unnecessary, a prototype winch with each change described in paragraph (a) of this section must be made and tested according to the procedures for new approvals in §§ 160.115–9 through 160.115–13 of this subpart.

(c) Determinations of equivalence of design, construction, and materials will be made by the Commandant only.