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Puget Sound Bridge Yards - History

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a number of navel shipyards were established, helping to connect the United States with the rest of the world. One of the most popular shipyards on the western coast was the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. First established in 1891, this shipyard built thousands of submarines, tug boats, U.S. Navy ships, and smaller vessels, many of which were used during both World Wars.

Although it hasn't been used in many years, one of the most distinct signatures of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is its giant green crane. Built in 1933, this crane is 250 feet tall and 80 feet wide. It can be seen from very far away and was once used to lift up to 250 tons.

When the Bremerton Shipyard originally opened, it was mainly used to repair ships. It expanded to begin building ships during World War I. Later, during World War II, the shipyard was primarily used to repair Allies' battleships, including some of those damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor. They also built smaller ships during this time period, such as destroyer escorts, but did not build many larger ships at the time. Some of the best work during this era was in the upgrading of older ships to join the Pacific Fleet. Today, this is one of the best services found at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

After World War II was over, the shipyard at Bremerton was a storage facility for many vessels that were no longer being used, called the mothball fleet. During this time period, those working at the shipyard participated in a program for updating older flight decks to angled decks, which helped many outdated ships become useful in the water again. They also initiated other modernizing programs to help prepare the fleet for future needs by the Navy.

Many of the ships being stored at Bremerton were revitalized for use during the Korean conflict, and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard began construction on a new kind of vessel - the guided missile frigate. This was the focus of the shipyard for many years, as they pioneered in this field. Later, in 1961, the yard also became a repair location for submarines, and by 1965, they could also handle the repair of ships with nuclear components. Again, this yard paved the way in the industry, and for a while they were the only location to offer services to repair nuclear-powered ships. One of the yard's biggest honors came in 1987, when the nuclear carrier USS NMITZ decided to call this shipyard its homeport.

The largest shipyard on the west coast, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton was given the 1991 Commander-In-Chief's Installation Excellence Award. The facility had more than 10,000 civilian workers, as well as hundreds of military workers. They have six dry docks, with one of the docks being the largest along the West Coast and one of the few able to service or build aircraft carriers. The yard covers more than 650 acres of land and sea and, in addition to having six dry docks, it also features nine piers and four moorings. Today, much of the work done at this shipyard involves safely deactivating, repairing, and recycling ships powered with nuclear energy, as they are still regarded as the best shipyard in the country for these tasks.

In 2003, The Puget Sound Navel Shipyard combined to share resources with the Navel Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Pacific Northwest, which has locations in Bangor, Bremerton, and Everett (all located in Washington state). This gave Bremerton's shipyard the chance to grow even more, streamlining repair and production. With the two companies supporting one another, both have benefited and grown.

One of the most recent developments came in 2005 with the close of the naval shipyard in Portsmouth, Kittery, ME. The officers working in Portsmouth recommended relocations of their ship repair facilities to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, which has now taken on more work in that respect.

Today, the shipyard at Bremerton is still growing, providing even more working opportunities for those who live in and around Bremerton. They house the largest “mothball fleet,” which is the fleet of ships that the Navy keeps in good repair and on reserve in case needed quickly. They've also been recognized as one of the most significant locations in Naval history. In 1992, this shipyard was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Bremerton's shipyard will likely continue to set the pace for shipbuilding in the west for many years. This premier location's history is just a taste of the immense impact this shipyard has had on the world. Still going strong, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard will continue to support our country's Navy for many years.

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