RICHMOND — A call has gone out for welders, construction workers, donors and other volunteers to help support the revitalization of the Red Oak Victory, a World War II ship docked off the Richmond shoreline that is in need of major repair.

Related Articles

Here’s how big our nuclear arsenal is 80 years after the first atomic bomb

80th anniversary: A look at the memorials in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

At 102, D-Day veteran looks forward to a long-delayed bar mitzvah

The most unusual cruise ship in the Bay Area? It’s a yacht connected to a U.S. president, Elvis and drug smuggling

D-Day veteran, Bay Area TikTok star ‘Papa Jake’ Larson dies at 102

Preservation work on the Red Oak Victory will take place Aug. 18-29 as part of the Victory Ship Revival initiative. The two-week restoration project aims to repair and renovate the deck, masts, tubs and smokestacks.

The effort is part of a year-long commemoration marking the 25th anniversary of Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Park. The museum, located in the Richmond Marina next door to the historic Craneway Pavilion, honors the wartime contributions of women and the historic societal changes that followed.

Supporting the initiative is a partnership among the SS Red Oak Victory, a branch of the Richmond Museum Association; the Rosie the Riveter Trust; the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park; International Boilermakers Local 549; and the city of Richmond.

“This project captures the heart of the National Park. It represents dedication to sharing the story of the home front, collaboration, and the power and ability of women,” said Sarah Pritchard, executive director of Rosie the Riveter Trust, in a press release. “By investing in Red Oak Victory’s upkeep, we honor the legacy of the women and men who built her and help secure her place as a landmark of American resilience and ingenuity.”

The Red Oak Victory was among hundreds of ships built in Richmond’s Kaiser Shipyards during World War II. The cargo vessel was assembled and launched in November 1944, and traveled throughout the Pacific Ocean carrying ammunition before being decommissioned from the U.S. Navy in 1946 following the war’s end, according to the Red Oak Victory website.

After completing a number of other voyages in support of the Korean and Vietnam wars and providing humanitarian assistance to India and Pakistan throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the ship was placed in permanent storage for nearly three decades at a military anchorage site in Suisun Bay.

By 1998, the Red Oak Victory was returned to Richmond where it has been overseen by the Richmond Museum Association ever since. About $2 million was spent between 2002 and 2011 to overhaul the ship but “weather and time has taken a toll on the deck and superstructure,” according to the Richmond Museum Association.

As the last surviving ship built in the Richmond Kaiser Shipyards during World War II, the Red Oak Victory acts as a “floating museum,” the association said.

“The SS Red Oak Victory represents the spirit of Richmond. It tells the story of everyday people who stepped up during a time of national need and built something that still stands today,” Mayor Eduardo Martinez said in a statement. “Restoring this ship means protecting that story and making sure future generations can learn from it. We are proud to support this effort and thank all those involved for keeping history alive.”

Seasoned welders and people with experience working with power tools or trained in safety procedures are being sought out to support the initiative.

People without specialized skills can also volunteer in other construction and non-construction related roles. Donations can also be made to help the Victory Ship Revival initiative reach its funding goal of $125,000 to buy materials for the project.

“These Modern Day Rosies aren’t just restoring a ship — they’re preserving a legacy,” said Fred Klink, director of marketing for USS Red Oak Victory, in a statement. “This vessel tells a powerful story of what American industry and community can achieve. With the help of today’s Rosies, we’re ensuring that story continues for future generations.”

Visit redoakvictory.us/victory-ship-revival/ to learn more about the project and how to volunteer or donate to the initiative.