DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 5711.96D
N53/
5 Apr 2021
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 5711.96D
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: UNITED STATES AND RUSSIAN FEDERATION INCIDENTS AT SEA
INCLUDING DANGEROUS MILITARY ACTIVITIES AGREEMENTS
Ref: (a) Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the
Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Prevention of Incidents
On and Over the Waters Outside the Limits of the Territorial Sea, As Amended by the
1973 Protocol to the Agreement and the 1998 Exchange of Diplomatic Notes
(b) Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Military Activities (DMA)
(with annexes and agreed statements) Signed at Moscow on 12 June 1989; No. 27309
(c) National Imagery and Mapping Agency Pub. 102, International Code of Signals
(ICS) for Visual, Sound, and Radio Communications, United States Edition, 1969
Edition (Revised 2003)
(d) DOD Flight Information Publications, Flight Information Handbook (NOTAL)
(e) OPNAVINST 3100.6J (NOTAL)
(f) DoD Instruction 5530.03 of 4 December 2019
(g) SECNAVINST 5710.32
Encl: (1) ICS Instructions for Use, with Supplementary Signals or Table of Signals
(2) DMA Communication Instruction for Use, Additional Signals, Phrases and
Appropriate Responses
(3) Incidents at Sea Agreement (INCSEA) Reporting Flow Chart
(4) CNO (N3/N5) Event of Concern Notification Letter (Template)
(5) CNO (N3/N5) Annual INCSEA Summary Letter (Template)
(6) Annual INCSEA CNO Honorary (HON) Invitation Letter (Template)
1. Purpose. To provide guidance and issue procedures concerning the implementation of
references (a) and (b).
a. To describe the responsibilities of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), the Office of the
Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), and Naval Component Commands (NCCs) in
implementation of references (a) and (b).
b. To reissue the Table of Supplementary Signals authorized for use during communications
between the United States and the Russian Federation units under reference (a).
c. To distinguish policies and procedures for implementation of references (a) and (b) in the
U.S. Navy from other U.S. government policies and procedures including, but not limited to,
