DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 9096.1B
N96
28 Nov 2019
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 9096.1B
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: WEIGHT AND STABILITY LIMITS FOR NAVAL SURFACE SHIPS
1. Purpose. To issue policy regarding weight and stability limits of naval ships, service life
growth allowances for new ship designs, and for control of weight and moment in commissioned
ships. This revision contains organizational and nomenclature updates and should be reviewed
in its entirety.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 9096.1A.
3. Applicability. The provisions of this instruction are applicable to the staff of the Office of
the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV); Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command
(COMNAVSEASYSCOM); Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACTFLT); and
Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFLTFORCOM).
4. Policy. Navy’s ships will be kept within their naval architectural limits to ensure that
essential survivability features are maintained. Service life growth allowances for weight and
vertical center of gravity above bottom of keel will be established and incorporated in the
operational requirements documents for naval vessels. These features provide sufficient
stability, buoyancy, and hull girder strength to withstand hazards such as underwater damage,
beam winds, and heavy seas. Inadequate service life growth allowances for weight and vertical
center of gravity above bottom of keel have resulted in expensive corrective ship changes, or in
the inability to modernize ships through the installation of new weapons systems. It is important
that the fundamental survivability features be included in the design of Navy ships and
maintained throughout their lives.
a. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) Platform Resource Sponsors.
Director, Expeditionary Warfare (OPNAV N95); Director, Surface Warfare (OPNAV N96);
Director, Undersea Warfare (OPNAV N97); and Director, Air Warfare (OPNAV N98)) will:
(1) ensure that funding is provided for:
(a) weight and moment compensations or other actions required to adhere to
established limits; and
(b) required inclining.
