The Directorate of Naval Operations and Trade was a staff directorate created in 1967 it replaced the Trade and Operations Division.

[1] It was administered by the Director of Naval Operations and Trade.

[2] The directorate was established in November 1967 when it replaced the former Trade and Operations Division.

Its initial responsibilities included the planning of operations; deployments and programming of ships and protection of merchant vessels.

The directorate was under the superintendence of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations/Air) (1967), Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations and Air), (1968-1984).