The Commandant may approve any arrangement, fitting, appliance, apparatus, equipment, calculation, information, or test that provides a level of safety equivalent to that established by specific provisions of this subpart. Requests for approval must be submitted to Commandant (CG-ENG). If necessary, the Commandant may require engineering evaluations and tests to demonstrate the equivalence of the substitute. [CGD 94-108, 61 FR 28292, June 4, 1996]