Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard has a long and distinguished record of service to the U.S. Navy and our country.  For more than a century, thousands of shipyard workers, Navy seamen and outside contractors have worked at Pearl Harbor to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet operational and mission ready.

Founding and Mission

Pearl Harbor’s strategic location on the island of Oahu in Hawaii was recognized quickly and Congress passed legislation that established a navy yard here in 1908.  Maintenance, repair and retrofitting of various ships, submarines and other vessels has been a primary task of the shipyard from the beginning.  The December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor illustrated the shipyard’s strategic value and importance to the U.S Pacific Fleet.  The incredible salvage and repair effort after that attack was a crucial first step in winning the war in the Pacific.  According to the Special Centennial Commemorative Edition of Shipyard Log, shipyard workers repaired 10,000 vessels of all types during World War II and the Korean War.

World War II to Present

After World War II, activities at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard followed world events.  The shipyard continued to support a variety of Navy operations and programs.  These included the reactivation of mothballed ships in the 1950s, Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) I to the USS Epperson (DDE/DD-719) and FRAM II to the USS Nicholas (DDE-449) in the 1960s among others, hull extensions to the nuclear submarines USS Tang (SS-563) and USS Wahoo (SS-565) in 1967, repair of fire and explosion damage aboard the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) in 1969 and designation as a nuclear repair facility in the 1970s.  Currently, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is the largest ship repair facility between the West Coast and the Far East.  It supports both military and civilian vessels including the U.S. Coast Guard and various cargo and cruise lines.

Homeported Ships

A partial list of United States Navy ships and submarines homeported at Pearl Harbor include the USS Lloyd Thomas (DD-764), USS Finch (DE-328), USS Reeves (DLG/CG-24), USS Rathburne (DE-1057/FF-1057), USS Hassayampa (AO-145), USS Bryce Canyon (AD-36), USS Genesee (AOG-8), USS Medregal (SS-480) and USS Sargo (SSN-583).  Also, Pearl Harbor is a frequent port of call for many of the Navy’s Pacific cruises, transits and training exercises e.g. the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), Operation Deep Freeze, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) and Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployments.

Shipyard Shops and Trades

The roster of ships and vessels repaired or overhauled at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is extensive.  It includes steam, diesel and nuclear powered propulsion systems.  The highly skilled and trained shipyard workers and ship’s forces performed major and minor repairs at pier side, in the drydocks or in shops located within the shipyard.  The various trades include pipe coverers, insulators, electricians, inside machinists, outside machinists, electricians, pipe fitters, welders, boilermakers, sheet metal workers, ship fitters, laborers and riggers among others.  Operation support is provided by workers in the supply department, power plant, safety and industrial hygiene departments, nuclear inspection, and Naval Regional Medical Clinic.

Contributions and Sacrifice

The sacrifices of these shipyard workers and Navy personnel has not always been acknowledged or appreciated.  Many have worked for years at the shipyard and aboard ships in difficult and sometimes hazardous conditions including working with and around asbestos-containing products and equipment.  Gary Galiher filed the first asbestos-related lawsuit in Hawaii in 1978 on behalf of Tristan Nobriga, a former electrician at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.  In November 1978, Mr. Galiher, Mr. Nobriga and others testified before a Congressional subcommittee hearing in Honolulu, Hawaii about asbestos-related occupational diseases.  Since then the Galiher law firm has filed thousands of cases in Hawaii on behalf of former shipyard workers, Navy seamen and other victims of asbestos.

Preserving Memories

Many groups are working to preserve the countless memories, stories and experiences of former Pearl Harbor shipyard workers.  The Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Association published a Centennial commemorative book “Fit to Fight” in 2008 illustrated with historical photographs.  The shipyard maintains an award winning website and additional information may be found at the U.S. Navy’s website.  In 1981, volunteers from the shipyard helped in the restoration of the World War II submarine USS Bowfin (SS-287) which opened as a public museum adjacent to the USS Arizona (BB-39) Memorial Visitor Center at Pearl Harbor.

Future Role

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard’s continuing role in our nation’s security appears clear.  Its merger with the Intermediate Maintenance Facility to form a single U.S. Navy submarine and ship maintenance facility as well as the deployment of Virginia class submarines to Pearl Harbor demonstrate its importance in the entire Pacific region.  As always, current and future shipyard workers will uphold their pledge “We keep them fit to fight”.