scope:

a. The Navy's program for maintaining the readiness of ships has two separate components: ship maintenance and ship modernization. While ship maintenance and modernization budgets are distinct, they are closely related in their planning and execution. This instruction addresses policy for the maintenance of Navy ships, with reference to modernization, as necessary.

(1) Navy ship maintenance policies and actions are designed to ensure crew and ship safety while achieving desired operational readiness levels at the lowest possible total ownership cost, consistent with public law and other directives.

(2) The ship modernization program is designed to increase ship system capability and or improve reliability and maintainability of existing systems while maintaining integrity of ship class configuration.

b. This instruction applies to all ships and craft of the United States Navy (active and reserve) and those commands responsible for ship and related equipment maintenance, with the following exceptions:

(1) Units assigned to the Military Sealift Command and the United States Special Operations Command.

(2) Units designated as service craft and boats. Governed by OPNAVINST 4780.6E.

(3) Ships and service craft assigned to the Inactive Fleet. Governed by OPNAVINST 4770.5G.

(4) Ships of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) are covered under this instruction during those times when the USCG operates as a service in the Navy.

(5) The Director, Strategic Systems Programs (DIRSSP) is responsible for providing material support acquisition and fleet support of ballistic missile and strategic weapon systems, including missiles, platforms, associated equipment, and installation and direction of necessary supporting facilities. Nothing in this instruction detracts in any way from those responsibilities. Accordingly, DIRSSP will be consulted in all matters pertaining to, or affecting, strategic systems.

(6) The Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (CNO (N00N)), which is also known as the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEASYSCOM) Code 08 (NAVSEA 08), has responsibility for all matters pertaining to the maintenance, repair, and modification of naval nuclear propulsion plants and associated nuclear support facilities. Nothing in this instruction supersedes or changes these responsibilities and authorities. Accordingly, the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Directorate will be consulted in all matters pertaining to or affecting the maintenance, repair, or modification of naval nuclear propulsion plants or their associated nuclear support facilities.

c. This instruction provides policy for the accomplishment of maintenance of foreign ships.

d. Throughout this instruction, the term "ship" refers to all surface ships, aircraft carriers, submarines, and those craft specified in reference (b).

e. Organizational, intermediate, and depot levels of maintenance are described in enclosures (1) through (3), respectively.

Purpose

a. To set policy and establish responsibility for the maintenance of U.S. Navy ships per references (a) through (r).

b. To reflect organizational changes related to consolidation of fleet maintenance activities (FMAs), maintenance cycle changes as a result of implementation of the Fleet Response Plan (FRP) and reference (a), and minor procedural modifications.

c. To remove some detailed procedures that are an integral part of the maintenance and material management (3-M) system.

d. To combine the guidance contained in OPNAVINST 4900.79B, Intermediate Maintenance of Foreign Ships, allowing cancellation of that instruction.