18(1)If in the opinion of the Secretary of State the sheltered nature and conditions of international voyages—
(a)between near neighbouring ports in the United Kingdom and in another Convention country, or
(b)between near neighbouring ports in any two or more countries or territories outside the United Kingdom,
make it unreasonable or impracticable to apply the provisions of this Schedule to ships plying on such voyages, and the Secretary of State is satisfied that the Government of the other country or territory (or, as the case may be, of each of the other countries or territories) concurs in that opinion, the Secretary of State may by order specifying those ports direct that ships plying on international voyages between those ports, or any class of such ships specified in the order, shall be exempt from the provisions of this Schedule.
(2)The Secretary of State may by order direct that ships under 80 tons register engaged solely in the coasting trade, or any class of such ships specified in the order, shall be exempt from the provisions of this Schedule while not carrying cargo, or (if the order so provides) shall be exempt from the provisions of this Schedule whether carrying cargo or not.
(3)Any order under this paragraph may be made subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State thinks fit; and, where any such order is made subject to conditions, the exemption conferred by that order shall not have effect in relation to a ship unless the ship complies with those conditions.