scope:

Scope and Applicability

The Navy is committed to utilizing the reference (a) authority to transfer historically significant non-nuclear powered vessels under the Navy Ship Donation Program for static, public display in the United States in a manner that is fully compliant with all applicable and relevant Federal, State, and local regulations. Navy will also demonstrate fiscal responsibility during the execution of the Navy ship Donation Program. This applies to all entities eligible to receive a donated naval vessel, which are per reference (a):

Any State, Commonwealth, or possession of the United States or any municipal corporation or political subdivision thereof;

The District of Columbia; or

Any not-for-profit or nonprofit entity.

The Navy's policy for designating and retaining ships in a donation hold category is contained in reference (b). As such, vessels will not typically be retained in a donation hold status beyond tow (2) years unless authorized by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN (RD&A) with concurrence from Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) (N8F). This manual establishes revised ship donation application procedures designed to conform to OPNAV policy to minimize the length of time an inactive ship is maintained in a donation hold category while providing an opportunity for viable organizations to obtain a historically significant ship for use as a public museum/memorial.

The number of environmental regulations has increased in recent years, and these regulations are in a continuous state of change. This manual discusses Federal laws and regulations and Navy policies applicable to the Navy Ship Donation Program.

Purpose.

To provide the Naval Sea System Command's (NAVSEA) policies and procedures for implementing the Navy ship donation application process pursuant to reference (a). This document supersedes and is a major revision to NAVSEA Instruction 4520.1A of November 3, 1987. Enclosure (1) should be reviewed in its entirety.