1.In exceptional circumstances of technical innovation, the flag State administration may permit marine equipment which does not comply with the conformity assessment procedures to be placed on board an EU ship if it is established by trial or otherwise to the satisfaction of the flag State administration that such equipment meets the objectives of this Directive.
2.The trial procedures shall in no way discriminate between marine equipment produced in the flag Member State and marine equipment produced in other States.
3.Marine equipment covered by this Article shall be given a certificate by the flag Member State which shall at all times be carried with the equipment and which gives the flag Member State’s permission for the equipment to be placed on board the ship and imposes any restrictions or lays down any provisions relating to the use of the equipment.
4.Where a Member State allows marine equipment covered by this Article to be placed on board an EU ship, that Member State shall forthwith communicate the particulars thereof together with the reports of all relevant trials, assessments and conformity assessment procedures to the Commission and to the other Member States.
5.Within 12 months of receipt of the communication referred to in paragraph 4, the Commission, if it considers that the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 are not met, may require the Member State concerned to withdraw the permission granted within a specified deadline. For this purpose, the Commission shall act by means of implementing acts. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 38(2).
6.Where a ship with marine equipment on board which is covered by paragraph 1 is transferred to another Member State, the receiving flag Member State may take the necessary measures, which may include tests and practical demonstrations, to ensure that the equipment is at least as effective as equipment which does comply with the conformity assessment procedures.