(a) A ship which is not normally engaged on international
voyages but which, in exceptional circumstances, is required to undertake
a single international voyage may be exempted by the Administration
from any of the requirements of the present regulations provided that
it complies with safety requirements which are adequate in the opinion
of the Administration for the voyage which is to be undertaken by
the ship.
(b) The Administration may exempt any ship which
embodies features of a novel kind from any of the provisions of chapters II-1, II-2, III and IV of
these regulations the application of which might seriously impede
research into the development of such features and their incorporation
in ships engaged on international voyages. Any such ship shall, however,
comply with safety requirements which, in the opinion of that Administration,
are adequate for the service for which it is intended and are such
as to ensure the overall safety of the ship and which are acceptable
to the Governments of the States to be visited by the ship. The Administration
which allows any such exemption shall communicate to the Organization
particulars of same and the reasons therefor which the Organization
shall circulate to the Contracting Governments for their information.