By Kathy Chouteau
The Red Oak Victory ship, a World War II-era vessel built in Richmond, is sailing forward in its ambitious, multi-year “Revival Project.” The Standard recently interviewed Director of Ship Operations Captain Mark Epperson (USN retired) and Deck Department Head Kim Abbott to assess the project’s current status.
In August, during Phase One, the International Boilermakers Local Union 549 led a two-week surge of activity, bringing welders and other workers to carry out major repairs. Work involved installing a new deck over the windlass, adding a ventilation stack for the galley, and doing platform work in Hold Five and on the port side. The effort increased visibility for the Revival Project, attracting media, politicians and the public, and resulted in four new volunteers joining the Deck Department.
“We raised over $120,000 in donations and in-kind contributions,” said Epperson, adding the funds would be used for materials on all phases of the project. “And the Rosie welders have committed to returning on weekends to continue the work,” relayed Abbott.
While Phases 2 and 3 don’t have fixed start and end dates, they are defined by ongoing goals. Phase Two focuses on painting the ship’s superstructure, requiring scaffolding and skilled painters. There’s also still “quite a bit of welding that needs to be done,” according to Abbott. A painters union, pile drivers union and other trade groups have expressed interest in contributing to the project “basically pro bono or at little cost to us,” said Epperson. Scheduling volunteers around their work weeks and ongoing funding remain key challenges.
Phase Three will culminate in a shipyard visit for hull cleaning, painting and inspection, a costly endeavor estimated at $1.5 to $2 million. The team hopes to secure funding through community project grants. Abbott and Epperson underscored the project’s overall support from Congressman John Garamendi, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, the City of Richmond and Port of Richmond Director Charles Gerard.
The ultimate goal of the Revival, say project leaders, is to relocate the ship to a more visible berth near the Richmond Ferry Terminal and the Rosie the Riveter WWII National Historical Park’s Visitor’s Center. This move is expected to increase public access and boost annual attendance from 9,000 to potentially 30,000–40,000 visitors, they said.
“We want to be more than a museum,” said Epperson. “We want to be part of Richmond’s legacy.”
The Revival Project has also attracted younger volunteers and new energy, including plans for a new TikTok account to expand outreach. A CBS national news crew was scheduled to film a segment on the ship soon, further amplifying its story.
Support needed
Despite the progress, the team emphasizes the need for continued support, both financial and volunteer. “Paint alone can cost $150 a gallon,” Abbott said. “We’re going to start a capital campaign,” added Epperson, noting the ship hopes to attract more in-kind donations and funding from local businesses and organizations.
As the Red Oak Victory charts its course toward full restoration by 2029, its story is one of resilience, collaboration and pride in Richmond’s wartime and shipbuilding heritage. For more information on the project or to support it, click here.
The SS Red Oak Victory was constructed at Richmond’s Kaiser Shipyards and launched on Nov. 9, 1944. During WWII, she carried ammunition and supplies in the Pacific, and afterwards went on to serve in merchant and military roles before being retired in 1968. Today she is docked at Berth 5 in Richmond under the care of the Richmond Museum Association and is open to the public as a museum ship, celebrating the region’s shipbuilding legacy and wartime labor efforts.
For more information, visit the ship’s dedicated website here.
