DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
1000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20350-1000
SECNAVINST 5360.6
ASN(M&RA)
11 JUL 2018
SECNAV INSTRUCTION 5360.6
From: Secretary of the Navy
Subj: HUMAN REMAINS ASSOCIATED WITH SUNKEN MILITARY CRAFT
Ref: (a) Public Law 108-375, Title XIV,§§ 1401-1408
(b) 32 CFR 767
1. Purpose. To establish policy for human remains associated
with sunken military craft, as that term is defined in
references (a) and (b).
2. Background. The Department of the Navy (DON) has long
recognized the sea as a fit and final resting place for
personnel who perish at sea, as evidenced by its longstanding
practices. These practices include formal burials at sea, and
refraining from operations to remove the remains from sunken
military craft. Customary international norms and the
traditions of other seafaring nations also recognize the sea as
a fit and final resting place for those who perish at sea.
Reference (a) the Sunken Military Craft Act, prohibits certain
activities directed at sunken military craft, and it grants the
Secretary of the Navy authority to implement regulations to
issue permits to engage in otherwise prohibited activity. In
accordance with that authority, the DON issued reference (b),
which designates the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC)
as the steward for sunken military craft and associated
contents, including remains of crew and passengers, under the
congruence of the DON.
3. Definitions
a. Associated contents
(1) The equipment, cargo, and contents of a sunken
military craft that are within its debris field; and
(2) The remains and personal effects of the crew and
passengers of a sunken military craft that are within its debris
field.
