The PLAN is organized into several departments for purposes of command, control and coordination. Main operating forces are organized into fleets, each with its own headquarters, a commander (a Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral) and a Political Commisar. All PLAN headquarters are subordinate to the PLA Joint Staff Department and the Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
The People's Liberation Army Navy is divided into three fleets:[44]
· The North Sea Fleet, based in the Yellow Sea and headquartered in Qingdao, Shandong Province.
· The East Sea Fleet, based in the East China Sea and headquartered in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.
· The South Sea Fleet, based in the South China Sea and headquartered in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province.
Each fleet consists of surface forces (destroyers, frigates, amphibious vessels etc.), submarine forces, coastal defence units, and aircraft.