(a) The marine inspector must inspect the steering gear at each inspection for certification for vessels whose Certificate of Inspections are renewed each year. For other vessels, the marine inspector must inspect the steering gear twice within a 5-year period, and no more than 3 years may elapse between any inspection and its immediate predecessor. The marine inspector may inspect the steering gear more often, if necessary.

(b) All devices employed in the change-over from automatic to manual operation must be examined and tested.