Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) employs approximately 8,000 civilians and 1,000 officer and enlisted personnel. PNSY boasts an active apprentice and engineer recruitment program.

Encompassing more than 297 acres, the installation includes the main base, as well as a family housing site off-base in Kittery, Maine. Many of the buildings located at the shipyard are in a historic district; of them, 50 are currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's primary mission is the overhaul, repair and modernization of Los Angeles-class submarines. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard provides the U.S. Navy's nuclear powered submarine fleet with quality overhaul work in a safe, timely and affordable manner. This includes a full spectrum of in-house support--from engineering services and production shops, to unique capabilities and facilities, to off-site support--all of which serves the multifaceted assortment of fleet requirements. With the commissioning of the Virginia-class submarine, USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) in 2008, the shipyard and the Seacoast Communities got their first look at the next generation of submarine technology and the future of ship repair. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is performing the first extended availability on the new class of submarine on USS Virginia (SSN 774) which began October 1. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is focused on servicing the needs of the fleet and remains "Proud of our past . . . Ready for the future."

Official website of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Information on pets is important when moving to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard:

• Rental properties that allow pets are limited.
• Many area hotels do not allow pets, including the consolidated bachelor quarters.
• Some hotels charge extra for pets.
• Kennels for boarding are expensive and there are no boarding facilities on base.
• Dogs must be registered at six months of age or older.
• You must show the dog's Maine State Rabies Certificate.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is physically located in Kittery, Maine, specifically on Seavey Island; however, the mailing address for the shipyard is Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The shipyard uses building numbers versus street addresses for mail delivery, which makes it difficult to accurately map all locations.

Check-in -- Military members reporting to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: must check in at the Base Support Office, Building 86, on the first floor. Call 207-438-1112 during business hours. Military members reporting to the shipyard after hours must call the shipyard duty officer at 207-451-3405.

Fleet and Family Support Center – The FFSC is located in Building 241. Their main number is 207-438-1835. FFSC provides support and education in the following areas: Family Advocacy Program (FAP) and non-medical counseling, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR), family employment assistance including career planning, resume writing and navigating federal employment, operational stress control through Life Skills workshops, emergency family assistance during crisis and disaster, deployment support, Personal Financial Management (PFM), Transition Assistance (TAPS), Relocation Assistance and much more.

The Chaplain's office is located in Building 241. Call 207-438-1970.

Assistance is available from the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and the American Red Cross.

Defense Service Network dialing instructions -- The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense. Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by worldwide location. To place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cellphones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 Area Code. When dialing a DSN number to or from overseas locations, the DSN Area Code must be included. The operator can be reached at commercial 719-567-1110. Note that long distance charges may be incurred.