A '''blue-water navy''' is a [[Navy|maritime force]] capable of operating globally, essentially across the deep waters of open oceans[[ocean]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.da.mod.uk/colleges/jscsc/courses/RND/bmd|title=British Maritime Doctrine, BR 1806, Third Edition|year=2004|quote=The operating areas of maritime forces range from the deep waters of the open oceans (known colloquially as blue water).|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225005304/http://www.da.mod.uk/colleges/jscsc/courses/RND/bmd|archive-date=2014-02-25}}</ref> While definitions of what actually constitutes such a force vary, there is a requirement for the ability to exercise [[Command of the sea|sea control]] at long range.
The term "blue-water navy" is a [[Maritime geography|maritime geographical]] term in contrast with "[[brown-water navy]]" (littoral waters and near to shore) and "[[green-water navy]]" (near to shore and open oceans).
