DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 4740.2H
OPNAV N3/N5
07 Jan 2021
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 4740.2H
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: SALVAGE AND RECOVERY PROGRAM
Ref: (a) SECNAVINST 4740.1C of 17 Apr 2019
(b) NWP 4-12 of November 2008
(c) OPNAVINST 3150.27C of 24 Jun 2016
(d) OPNAVINST 3500.39D of 29 Mar 2018
(e) OPNAV M-5090.1 of September 2019
(f) OPNAVINST 3750.6S of 13 May 2014
(g) DoD Directive 3025.18, Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA),December
2010
(h) DoD Instruction 3025.21, Defense Support of Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies,
February 2013
(i) JP 3-28 of October 2018
(j) JAGINST 5800.7F
(k) SECNAVINST 5360.6
1. Purpose.
a. To provide implementation policy for salvage and recovery operations involving U.S.
government ships, cargo, aircraft and other objects, such as space vehicles, nose cones, ordnance
and weapons.
b. To provide implementation policy for salvage and recovery services provided to, or
received from, foreign governments and other parties, as appropriate.
c. To assign responsibilities for executing this policy.
d. This instruction is a complete revision and should be reviewed in its entirety. The
changes in subparagraphs 1d(1) through 1d(7) have been implemented.
(1) Realigned reporting and requesting responsibilities based on Office of Chief of Naval
Operations (OPNAV) reorganization.
(2) Clarified rules and references regarding defense support of civil authorities (DSCA)
in subparagraph 7c(3).
