Richmond Shipyard No. 3

Richmond Shipyard No. 3 is part of the National Park Service’s Rosie the Riveter / WWII Home Front National Historic Park located in Richmond, California.

The shipyard was part of industrialist Henry J. Kaiser’s shipbuilding operations, which played a critical role in the production of ships during World War II (WWII).  

Left to right: Graving docks, SS Red Oak Victory; Whirley Crane; General Warehouse; and the Sheet Metal Shop, Riggers Loft, and Paint Shop building at Richmond Shipyard No. 3 taken from the San Francisco Bay Ferry. 3 August 2024.

Some details related to the photo above:

• The graving docks of the shipyard were used to build and repair ships.
• SS Red Oak Victory (1944) is one of the Victory ships built during WW II. These vessels, which were operated by merchant mariners, were used to transport cargo, equipment, and troops during the war. Red Oak Victory was built at Richmond Shipyard No. 1. She was named after the city of Red Oak, Iowa.
• This historic Whirley Crane was once located at Richmond Shipyard No. 1. The crane’s name comes from the ability of the upper part of its structure (operator cabin and boom) to rotate 360° on a platform. 
• The General Warehouse building was used to store supplies and equipment used in the process of fitting out ships. Manol Manolov Photography gained access to the building in 2018. Mr. Manolov posted an account of his experience and a great series of photos on his website. 
• The Sheet Metal Shop, Riggers Loft, and Paint Shop building housed areas where skilled workers prepared and produced various components that were used in the construction of the ships in the yard.

There are so many interesting things to see in this area. However, they are beyond the scope of this particular post.

More photos from a previous (2014) Maritime Hawai‘i visit: Richmond (Saturday, August 9)