The work done at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard has been likened to that of a motor pool — a great big motor pool.

But instead of trucks, tanks and cars, the shipyard takes on the larger maintenance challenges of nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers and other Navy vessels.

"This is an industrial yard and we can pretty much do any work given to us," said Peter Fontanilla, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, which represents most shipyard workers. "We have the capabilities in this yard and the expertise."

The 112-acre facility, which shares the natural deep-water Pearl Harbor with the naval station, is a full-service shipyard capable of working on all classes of ships, according to Jason Holm, public affairs officer for the shipyard.

On any given day 4,300 civilian employees and 800 military workers will bring a ship or a submarine into one of the shipyard's five dry docks or 20 piers, or rebuild a weapons system or replace a propeller.

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission is voting today on whether to add the Pearl Harbor shipyard to the list of proposed base closings submitted by the Pentagon. Holm described the shipyard as the largest industrial employer in the state.

Workers also handle repairs and modernization for 17 submarines and 12 surface ships based at the naval station, as well as three attack submarines stationed in Guam.

For security reasons, Holm declined to list a breakdown of the job duties for the working force.

Run by the Navy, the shipyard is a nuclear-capable hub that maintains, repairs and overhauls cruisers, destroyers, frigates, large amphibious ships and aircraft carriers. Shipyard workers also maintain noncombat ships and do work as needed for ships from foreign navies.

"We also do emergent work on transiting vessels," Holm said via e-mail.

According to Gov. Linda Lingle's testimony before the BRAC Commission yesterday, 43 percent of the shipyard's workload consists of fleet maintenance, 33 percent focuses on engineered refueling overhauls on attack submarines at the rate of about one per year, and 24 percent consists of other scheduled ship maintenance for at least four ships each year.

Fontanilla said every ship is scheduled for regular overhauls and brought into the dry docks. Ten cranes — along with one floating crane with the capacity to lift 224,000 pounds — are used to lift heavy equipment and parts.

"Ships go out to sea and when they come in they need some repairs," Fontanilla said. "It could be anything. Like your car, you take 'em in to change the oil or some repairs. Even aircraft carriers, if they need repairs, we provide them."

The workers are on call "24/7," he said, for any emergencies.

The shipyard's motto — "We keep them fit to fight" — was earned following the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese bombing of the harbor when crews worked around the clock to rebuild the devastated fleet.

"The workers feel they are making a difference," Fontanilla said. "They take pride in their work. It starts from when they come in as an apprentice and grows with the discipline in various trades. They know people's lives depend on them."

SKILLED LABOR

Skilled jobs at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard include:

ELECTRICIAN — Installs, repairs, maintains, manufactures and tests temporary power systems for industrial and Navy vessels.

ELECTRONICS MECHANIC — Inspects, repairs, tests, overhauls, modifies, and calibrates physical, electrical and electromechanical shipboard instruments used to measure voltage, current, power, temperature and pressure.

FABRIC WORKER — Lays out, fabricates, repairs and installs awnings, canopies, and protective coverings of all types for use on ship decks, hatches, shipboard ordnance, machinery and electronic equipment.

INSULATOR — Installs, removes, repairs and manufactures insulation for heat transfer prevention, condensation prevention, sound dampening and radiation shielding.

MACHINIST — Operates a variety of machines and repairs ship's components.

MARINE MACHINERY MECHANIC — Removes, repairs, reinstalls the major propulsion, auxiliary and weapons systems aboard ships.

PAINTER — Applies paints, coatings and coverings for functional, decorative, or protective purposes aboard ships and in shop areas.

PLASTIC FABRICATOR — Designs and fabricates templates, patterns, wooden molds and form blocks of various shapes and sizes used in the forming of Plexiglas, fiberglass, and various plastic and rubber items.

PIPE FITTER — Manufactures, installs, repairs, maintains, and removes all piping services.

RIGGER — Uses chainfalls, blocks, tackles, winches, cranes, and other mechanical devices to safely move items ranging from a few pounds to those weighing hundreds of tons.

SHEET-METAL MECHANIC — Designs, manufactures, installs, and repairs ventilation, furniture, lightweight bulkheads and doors on Navy vessels.