scope:

a. This instruction applies to all ships and patrol 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 (MSC) and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), through the Navy Special Warfare Command, have their own governing maintenance instructions.

(2) Units designated as service craft and boats are defined in and have their maintenance program administered in accordance with reference (a).

(3) Ships and service craft assigned to the Inactive Fleet have their maintenance program governed by reference (b).

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

c. Ships of the United States Guard (USCG) are covered under this instruction during those times when the USCG operates as a service in the Navy in accordance with references (d) and (e).

d. Ship maintenance is one of two major components of Navy's program for the maintenance and modernization of ships, which, in its entirety, defines and manages the material condition requirements and the configuration of Navy ships. Navy ship maintenance policies and actions are designed to keep ships at the highest achievable level of material readiness commensurate with supporting the ships while also providing reasonable assurance of their availability for operations to the Fleet Commanders. The second major component, the Fleet Modernization Program (FMP), is designed to maintain the integrity of ship configuration as changes are authorized. 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. The Fleet Modernization Program is addressed by reference (f).

e. This instruction provides policy for all three levels of Navy Ship Maintenance: organizational-, intermediate-, and depot-level. Enclosures (1), (2), and (3) respectively, address these maintenance echelons.

Purpose. To set policy and establish responsibility for the maintenance of U.S. Navy Ships in accordance with references (a) through (mm). This instruction has been completely revised and should be reviewed in its entirety.