47 CFR §80.1071

1. (a)In certain circumstances, partial or conditional exemptions may be granted to individual ships from the requirements of §§ 80.1085, 80.1087, 80.1089, 80.1091, and 80.1093 provided: such ships comply with the functional requirements of § 80.1081 and a showing is made that such an exemption will not have a material effect upon the general efficiency of the service for the safety of all ships.
2. (b)An exemption may be granted under paragraph (a) of this section only:
   1. (1)If the conditions affecting safety are such as to render the full application of §§ 80.1085, 80.1087, 80.1089, 80.1091, and 80.1093 unreasonable or unnecessary or otherwise not in the public interest;
   2. (2)In exceptional circumstances, for a single voyage outside the sea area or sea areas for which the ship is equipped.
3. (c)All fishing vessels of 300 gross tons and upward are exempt from subpart W requirements applicable for carriage of VHF-DSC and MF-DSC equipment until one year after the USCG establishes GMDSS coast facilities for Sea Areas A1 and A2, if the following provisions are met:
   1. (1)The ship is equipped with:
      1. (i)A VHF radiotelephone installation.
      2. (ii)A MF or HF radiotelephone installation.
      3. (iii)A Category 1, 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB meeting the requirements of § 80.1061;
      4. (iv)A NAVTEX receiver meeting the requirements of § 80.1101(c)(1);
      5. (v)Survival craft equipment meeting the requirements of § 80.1095;
      6. (vi)A Search and Rescue Transponder meeting the requirements of § 80.1101(c)(6); and
   2. (2)The ship remains within coverage of a VHF coast station and maintains a continuous watch on VHF Channel 16; or
   3. (3)The vessel remains within coverage of an MF coast station and maintains a continuous watch on 2182 kHz and VHF Channel 16.