46 CFR §160.135-23

1. (a)Each change in design, material, or construction from the plans approved under 46 CFR 159.005-13 and § 160.135-13(h) of this subpart must be approved by the Commandant before being used in any production lifeboat. The manufacturer must submit any such change following the procedures in § 160.135-9 of this subpart, but documentation on items that are unchanged from the plans approved under 46 CFR 159.005-13 and § 160.135-13(h) of this subpart need not be resubmitted.
2. (b)Unless determined by the Commandant to be unnecessary, a prototype lifeboat with each change described in paragraph (a) of this section must be made and tested according to the procedures for new approvals in §§ 160.135-9 through 160.135-13 of this subpart.
3. (c)Determinations of equivalence of design, construction, and materials will be made by the Commandant only.