Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard on Seavey's Island in Kittery, Maine, bordering Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The naval yard lies along the southern boundary of Maine on the Piscataqua River.

Founded on June 12, 1800, PNS is U.S. Navy's oldest continuously operating shipyard. Today, most of its work concerns the overhaul, repair, and modernization of submarines.

As of November 2021, the shipyard employed more than 6,500 federal employees. As well, some of the work is performed by private corporations (e.g., Delphinius Engineering of Eddystone, Pennsylvania; Oceaneering International of Chesapeake, Virginia; Orbis Sibro of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; and Q.E.D. Systems Inc. of Virginia Beach, Virginia).

History
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was established on June 12, 1800, during the administration of President John Adams. It sits on a cluster of conjoined islands called Seavey's Island in the Piscataqua River, whose swift tidal current prevents ice from blocking navigation to the Atlantic Ocean.

The area has a long tradition of shipbuilding. Since colonial settlement, New Hampshire and Maine forests provided lumber for wooden boat construction. HMS Falkland (1696), considered the first British warship built in the Thirteen Colonies, was commissioned here in 1696. During the Revolution, the USS Raleigh (1776) was built in 1776 on Badger's Island in Kittery, and became the first vessel to fly an American flag into battle. Raleigh has been depicted on the Seal of New Hampshire since 1784, even though she was captured and served in the British Navy. Other warships followed, including USS Ranger (1777) launched in 1777; Commanded by Captain John Paul Jones, it became the first U. S. Navy vessel to receive an official salute at sea from a foreign power. The 36-gun frigate USS Congress (1799), one of the first six frigates of the United States Navy, was built at the shipyard from 1795 to 1799.

In the 1790s, Navy Secretary Benjamin Stoddert decided to build the first federal shipyard. He put it where a proven workforce had access to abundant raw materials: Fernald's Island, for which the government paid $5,500. To protect the new installation, old Fort William and Mary at the mouth of Portsmouth Harbor was rebuilt and renamed Fort Constitution.

Commodore Isaac Hull was the first naval officer to command the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; he led it from 1800 until 1802, and again in 1812 during the War of 1812. The yard's first product was the 74-gun ship of the line USS Washington (1814), supervised by local master shipbuilder William Badger and launched in 1814. Barracks were built in 1820, with Marine barracks added in 1827. A hospital was established in 1834. Architect Alexander Parris was appointed chief engineer for the base. In 1838, the Franklin Shiphouse was completed: 240 ft long, 131 ft wide, and measuring 72 ft from floor to center of its ridgepole. It carried 130 tons of slate on a gambrel roof. It was lengthened in 1854 to accommodate USS Franklin (1864) (from which it took its name); the largest wooden warship built at the yard, it required a decade to finish. The structure was considered one of the largest shiphouses in the country until it burned at 5 a.m. on March 10, 1936. Perhaps the most famous vessel ever overhauled at the yard was USS Constitution, also called "Old Ironsides," in 1855. On November 2, 1842, Commodore John Drake Sloat responded to a request by Navy Secretary Abel P. Upshur for information about wages and working hours at the shipyard. Sloat said the "time of work is from sunrise until sunset, except when the sun rises before 7 o'clock or sets after 6 when they commence work at 7 and quit at 6 o clock, not exceeding 10 hours labor at any season of the year." He added that wages "are always fluctuating according to the demand for mechanics".

Prisoners of war from the Spanish–American War were encamped in 1898 on the grounds of the base. In 1905, construction began on the Portsmouth Naval Prison, a military prison dubbed "The Castle" because of its resemblance to a crenellated castle. It was the principal prison for the Navy and Marine Corps, as well as housing for many German U-boat crews after capture, until it closed in 1974. Also in 1905, the Portsmouth Navy Yard hosted the Treaty of Portsmouth which ended the Russo-Japanese War. For arranging the peace conference, President Theodore Roosevelt won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize. Delegates met in the General Stores Building, now the Administration Building (called Building 86). In 2005, a summer-long series of events marked the 100th anniversary of the signing of the treaty, including a visit by a Navy destroyer, a parade, and a re-enactment of the arrival of diplomats from the two nations.

During World War I, the shipyard began constructing submarines, with USS L-8 (SS-48) being the first ever built by a U. S. navy yard. Meanwhile, the base continued to overhaul and repair surface vessels. Consequently, the workforce grew to nearly 5,000 civilians. It grew to almost 25,000 civilians in World War II when over 70 submarines were constructed at the yard, with a record of 4 launched in a single day. When the war ended, the shipyard became the Navy's center for submarine design and development. In 1953, USS Albacore (AGSS-569) revolutionized submarine design around the world with its teardrop hull and round cross-section. It is now a museum and tourist attraction in Portsmouth. USS Swordfish (SSN-579), the first nuclear-powered submarine built at the base, was launched in 1957. The last submarine built here was USS Sand Lance (SSN-660), launched in 1969. Today the shipyard provides overhaul, refueling, and modernization work.

In 1965, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara ordered the closure of 95 military bases which included the Portsmouth Naval Yard, but Portsmouth received a ten-year extension before the order to close was ultimately rescinded by President Richard Nixon in 1971.

In the early years of submarine construction, the wood from lignum vitae tree logs was used for propeller shaft bearings. A small pond at Portsmouth, near the Naval Prison, was used to keep the lignum vitae logs submerged in water in order to prevent the wood from cracking. Although the use of wood was discontinued as construction techniques improved, many of the logs were still present during the construction of USS Jack (SSN-605) between 1963 and 1967.

The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission placed the yard on a list for base closures, effective by 2008. Employees organized the Save Our Shipyard campaign to influence the committee to reverse its decision. On 24 August 2005, the base was taken off the list and continues operating under its motto, "From Sails to Atoms."

The shipyard earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2005. The MUC recognized the shipyard for meritorious service from September 11, 2001, to August 30, 2004. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard accomplishments achieved during that period included completion of six major submarine availabilities early, exceeding Net Operation Results financial goals, reducing injuries by more than 50 percent, and exceeding the Secretary of Defense's Fiscal Year 2006 Stretch Goal for lost workday compensation rates two years early.

In addition to the Navy presence, the United States Army New England Recruiting Battalion moved to PNSY in June 2010 from the closed Naval Air Station Brunswick. The United States Coast Guard uses the Portsmouth Navy Yard as the home port for the medium-endurance cutters USCGC Reliance (WMEC-615), USCGC Tahoma (WMEC-908), and USCGC Campbell (WMEC-909).

PNS is undergoing substantial construction and infrastructure upgrades. In fiscal 2020, Navy contracts were issued to renovate the communications building, build a super flood basin and extend crane rails in Dry Dock 1, upgrade crane rails in Dry Dock 2, renovate Building 2, and implement sundry waterfront projects.

The summer of 2021 saw an uptick in construction contracts issued for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, including purchase and installation of three 12,000-gallon-per-minute dewatering pumps for the Dry Dock 1 extension, ongoing construction of the Dry Dock 2 complex, commencement of construction on the Virginia-class submarine waterfront support facility (Building 178), and a $1.73 billion contract for building a dry dock for maintenance and upgrade of Virginia-class submarines.

Superfund site
In 1994, the shipyard was placed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Priorities List (NPL) for environmental investigations/restorations under CERCLA (Superfund) after an investigation found groundwater, soil and sediment contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), metals and benzene. In 2024, the EPA removed the shipyard from the National Priorities List of contaminated Superfund. The removal followed 30 years of extensive remediation at the 278-acre shipyard, including the removal of contaminated soil, sediment and other hazardous materials.

Boundary dispute
New Hampshire laid claim to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard until the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the case in 2001, asserting judicial estoppel. Had it been found to belong to New Hampshire, base employees (and their spouses regardless of whether they themselves worked in Maine) from that state would no longer be required to pay Maine income tax. Despite the court's ruling, New Hampshire's 2006 Session House Joint Resolution 1 reaffirmed its sovereignty assertion over Seavey's Island and the base.

Safety concerns
A CDC / NIOSH study released in 2005 examined the cases of 115 employees at the shipyard who had died of leukemia between 1952 and 1992. The results suggested that leukemia mortality risk increased with increasing cumulative occupational ionizing radiation dose among PNS workers.

Notable ships built at shipyard predecessors
Piscataqua River region
 * 1690 — HMS Falkland - (50-gun fourth-rate)
 * 1696 — HMS Bedford Galley - (32-gun fifth-rate)
 * 1749 — HMS America - (60-gun fourth-rate)

Badger's Island
 * 1776 — USS Raleigh (1776) - (32-gun frigate)
 * 1777 — USS Ranger (1777) - (18-gun sloop-of-war)
 * 1782 — USS America (1782) - (74-gun ship of the line)
 * 1791 — USRC Scammel (1791) - (revenue cutter)
 * 1797 — USS Crescent - (36-gun frigate)
 * 1798 — USS Portsmouth (1798) - (24-gun sloop-of-war)
 * 1799 — USS Congress (1799) - (38-gun frigate)

Notable ships built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard



 * 1814 — USS Washington (1814) - (74-gun ship of the line)
 * 1820 — USS Porpoise (1820) - (11-gun schooner)
 * 1828 — USS Concord (1828) - (24-gun sloop-of-war)
 * 1839 — USS Preble (1839) - (20-gun sloop-of-war)
 * 1841 — USS Congress (1841) - (50-gun frigate)
 * 1842 — USS Saratoga (1842) - (24-gun sloop-of-war)
 * 1843 — USS Portsmouth (1843) - (24-gun sloop-of-war)
 * 1848 — USS Saranac (1848) - (steam sloop)
 * 1855 — USS Santee (1855) - (44-gun frigate)
 * 1855 — LV-1 - Lightship Nantucket
 * 1859 — USS Mohican (1859) - (steam sloop)
 * 1861 — USS Kearsarge (1861) - (steam sloop)
 * 1861 — USS Ossipee (1861) - (steam sloop)
 * 1861 — USS Sebago (1861) - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1861 — USS Mahaska (1861) - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1862 — USS Sonoma (1862) - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1862 — USS Conemaugh (1862) - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1862 — USS Sassacus (1862) - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1862 — USS Sacramento (1862) - (steam sloop)
 * 1863 — USS Nipsic (1863) - (steam gunboat)
 * 1863 — USS Shawmut (1863) - (steam gunboat)
 * 1863 — USS Agamenticus (1863) - (Miantonomoh-class monitor)
 * 1864 — USS New Hampshire (1864) - (74-gun ship of the line)
 * 1864 — USS Contoocook (1864) - (steam sloop)
 * 1864 — USS Franklin (1864) - (steam frigate)
 * 1864 — USS Pawtuxet - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1864 — USS Blue Light (1863) - (tugboat)
 * 1864 — USS Port Fire (1864) - (tugboat)
 * 1865 — USS Resaca (1865) - (steam gunboat)
 * 1866 — USS Piscataqua (1866) - (steam frigate)
 * 1867 — USS Minnetonka (1867) - (steam frigate)
 * 1868 — USS Benicia (1868) - (steam sloop)
 * 1874 — USS Enterprise (1874) - (steam sloop)
 * 1905 — USS Boxer (1905) - (training brigantine)
 * 1908 — USS Patapsco (AT-10) - (tugboat)
 * 1917 — USS L-8 (SS-48) - (United States L-class submarine)
 * 1918 — USS O-1 (SS-62) - (United States O-class submarine)
 * 1918 — USS S-3 (SS-107) - (United States S-class submarine)
 * 1919 — USS S-4 (SS-109) - (United States S-class submarine)
 * 1919 — USS S-5 (SS-110) - (United States S-class submarine)
 * 1919 — USS S-6 (SS-111) - (United States S-class submarine)
 * 1920 — USS S-7 (SS-112) - (United States S-class submarine)
 * 1920 — USS S-8 (SS-113) - (United States S-class submarine)
 * 1920 — USS S-9 (SS-114) - (United States S-class submarine)
 * 1920 — USS S-10 (SS-115) - (United States S-class submarine)
 * 1921 — USS S-11 (SS-116) - (United States S-class submarine)
 * 1921 — USS S-12 (SS-117) - (United States S-class submarine)
 * 1921 — USS S-13 (SS-118) - (United States S-class submarine)
 * 1924 — USS Barracuda (SS-163) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1924 — USS Bass (SS-164) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1924 — USS Bonita (SS-165) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1928 — USS Argonaut (SM-1) - (diesel submarine minelayer) 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1929 — USS Narwhal (SS-167) - (diesel submarine cruiser) sank 6 ships in 15 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1932 — USS Dolphin (SS-169) - (diesel submarine) 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1933 — USS Cachalot (SS-170) - (diesel submarine) 3 World War II Pacific patrols USSCachalotLaunch.jpg]]
 * 1934 — USCGC Hudson (WYT-87) - (USCG Calumet-class harbor tug)
 * 4 of 10 United States Porpoise-class submarines
 * 1935 — USS Porpoise (SS-172) - sank 2 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1935 — USS Pike (SS-173) - sank 1 ship in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1936 — USS Plunger (SS-179) - sank 13 ships in 12 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1936 — USS Pollack (SS-180) - sank 11 ships in 11 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 2 of 6 Salmon-class submarines
 * 1937 — USS Snapper (SS-185) - sank 4 ships in 11 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1937 — USS Stingray (SS-186) - sank 2 ships in 16 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 4 of 10 Sargo-class submarines
 * 1938 — USS Sculpin (SS-191) - sank 3 ships in 9 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1939 — USS Sailfish (SS-192) - sank 7 ships in 12 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1939 — USS Searaven (SS-196) - sank 3 ships in 13 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1939 — USS Seawolf (SS-197) - sank 18 ships in 15 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 4 of 12 Tambor-class submarines
 * 1940 — USS Triton (SS-201) - sank 11 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1940 — USS Trout (SS-202) - sank 12 ships in 11 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1940 — USS Grayling (SS-209) - sank 2 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1940 — USS Grenadier (SS-210) - sank 1 ship in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1 of 2 Mackerel-class submarines
 * 1941 — USS Marlin (SS-205)
 * 14 of 77 Gato-class submarines
 * 1941 — USS Drum (SS-228) - sank 12 ships in 13 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1941 — USS Flying Fish (SS-229) - sank 15 ships in 12 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1941 — USS Finback (SS-230) - sank 11 ships in 12 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1941 — USS Haddock (SS-231) - sank 8 ships in 13 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1941 — USS Halibut (SS-232) - sank 12 ships in 10 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Herring (SS-233) - sank 6 ships in 5 Atlantic and 3 Pacific World War II patrols
 * 1942 — USS Kingfish (SS-234) - sank 14 ships in 12 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Shad (SS-235) - sank 3 ships in 11 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Runner (SS-275) - 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Sawfish (SS-276) - sank 6 ships in 10 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Scamp (SS-277) - sank 5 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Scorpion (SS-278) - sank 4 ships in 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Snook (SS-279) - sank 17 ships in 9 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Steelhead (SS-280) - sank 4 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 42 of 120 Balao-class submarines
 * 1942 — USS Balao (SS-285) - sank 6 ships in 10 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Billfish (SS-286) - sank 3 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Bowfin (SS-287) - sank 16 ships in 9 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Cabrilla (SS-288) - sank 7 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Capelin (SS-289) - sank 1 ship in 1 World War II Pacific patrol
 * 1942 — USS Cisco (SS-290) - 1 World War II Pacific patrol
 * 1943 — USS Crevalle (SS-291) - sank 8 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Apogon (SS-308) - sank 3 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Aspro (SS-309) - sank 6 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Batfish (SS-310) - sank 6 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Archerfish (SS-311) - sank 2 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Burrfish (SS-312) - sank 1 ship in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Sand Lance (SS-381) - sank 10 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Picuda (SS-382) - sank 13 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Pampanito (SS-383) - sank 5 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Parche (SS-384) - sank 8 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Bang (SS-385) - sank 8 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Pilotfish (SS-386) - 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Pintado (SS-387) - sank 8 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Pipefish (SS-388) - sank 2 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Piranha (SS-389) - sank 2 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Plaice (SS-390) - sank 4 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Pomfret (SS-391) - sank 4 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Sterlet (SS-392) - sank 4 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Queenfish (SS-393) - sank 8 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Razorback (SS-394) - 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Redfish (SS-395) - sank 5 ships in 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Ronquil (SS-396) - sank 2 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Scabbardfish (SS-397) - 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Segundo (SS-398) - sank 2 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Cat (SS-399) - 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Devil (SS-400) - sank 5 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Dog (SS-401) - sank 9 ships in 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Fox (SS-402) - 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Atule (SS-403) - sank 6 ships in 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Spikefish (SS-404) - sank 1 ship in 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Owl (SS-405) - sank 2 ships in 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Poacher (SS-406) - 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Robin (SS-407) - sank 6 ships in 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sennet (SS-408) - sank 7 ships in 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Piper (SS-409) - 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Threadfin (SS-410) - sank 3 ships in 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 24 of 29 Tench-class submarines
 * 1944 — USS Tench (SS-417) - sank 4 ships in 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Thornback (SS-418) - 1 World War II Pacific patrol
 * 1944 — USS Tigrone (SS-419) - 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Tirante (SS-420) - sank 8 ships in 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Trutta (SS-421) - 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Toro (SS-422) - 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Torsk (SS-423) - sank 3 ships in 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Quillback (SS-424) - 1 World War II Pacific patrol
 * 1944 — USS Argonaut (SS-475) - sank 1 ship in 1 World War II Pacific patrol
 * 1944 — USS Runner (SS-476) - sank 1 ship in 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Conger (SS-477)
 * 1944 — USS Cutlass (SS-478) - 1 World War II Pacific patrol
 * 1944 — USS Diablo (SS-479) - 1 World War II Pacific patrol
 * 1944 — USS Medregal (SS-480)
 * 1945 — USS Requin (SS-481)
 * 1945 — USS Irex (SS-482)
 * 1945 — USS Sea Leopard (SS-483)
 * 1945 — USS Odax (SS-484)
 * 1945 — USS Sirago (SS-485)
 * 1945 — USS Pomodon (SS-486)
 * 1945 — USS Remora (SS-487)
 * 1945 — USS Sarda (SS-488)
 * 1945 — USS Spinax (SS-489)
 * 1945 — USS Volador (SS-490)
 * 1951 — USS Tang (SS-563) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1951 — USS Wahoo (SS-565) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1951 — USS Gudgeon (SS-567) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1953 — USS Albacore (AGSS-569) - (experimental diesel submarine)
 * 1955 — USS Sailfish (SSR-572) - (RADAR picket submarine)
 * 1956 — USS Salmon (SSR-573) - (RADAR picket submarine)
 * 1958 — USS Growler (SSG-577) - (guided missile diesel submarine)
 * 1958 — USS Swordfish (SSN-579) - (nuclear submarine)
 * 1958 — USS Barbel (SS-580) - (fast diesel submarine)
 * 1958 — USS Seadragon (SSN-584) - (nuclear submarine)
 * 1960 — USS Thresher (SSN-593) - (nuclear fast attack submarine)
 * 1960 — USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602) - (nuclear ballistic missile submarine)
 * 1963 — USS Jack (SSN-605) - (nuclear fast attack submarine)
 * 1961 — USS Tinosa (SSN-606) - (nuclear fast attack submarine)
 * 1963 — USS John Adams (SSBN-620) - (nuclear ballistic missile submarine)
 * 1964 — USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636) - (nuclear ballistic missile submarine)
 * 1967 — USS Grayling (SSN-646) - (nuclear fast attack submarine)
 * 1968 — USS Dolphin (AGSS-555) - (experimental diesel submarine)
 * 1969 — USS Sand Lance (SSN-660) - (nuclear fast attack submarine)