Red Oak Victory - Repair the Hull to Get Underway

Last summer was an exciting time for the SS Red Oak Victory's crew!

Thanks to many of you who donated to our campaigns, we lit the engines for the first time in 50 years!  This was a significant milestone on our path to getting the ship underway and giving her a secure future as an operating steamship again. This is even more significant because we were the one and only, large American World War II warship in over 40 years to fire up her boilers again. It's a story of the little ship that could, and you can be part of it!

See our video story  below:
To get her operational again, a little more needs to be done.  In accordance with US Coast Guard regulations governing ship integrity and passenger safety, we must complete some needed hull repairs before we can operate the ship under her own power on open water.

What needs to be done?

On the starboard-side hull six steel plates need to be replaced. This is done by cutting the damaged part of the hull out, grinding the area clean, fitting in new plates, welding in on both sides, and then painting the repaired area.

Why does it need to be replaced?

Years of water and wind hitting the hull have damaged parts of it.  Six areas of the hull were determined to be in need of repair.  In order for the ship to carry passengers, we need to ensure the ship is seaworthy, and getting the hull repaired is a major step in this process.

What is being purchased?

The new steel plates, labor costs, and equipment rental associated with the repair of the hull. Keep in mind, we will do a lot of it ourselves, but for some major elements, we need help and materials.

SS Red Oak Victory – Arrive Curious, Leave in Awe

The SS Red Oak Victory was never expected to last this long.  Of the 747 ships built at the Kaiser Richmond Shipyards in World War II, only the SS Red Oak Victory remains, and is one of three surviving Victory ships left in the United States.

Our light-off in 2018  was the first time since 1978 that a large American World War II ship was lit off.  History like this just doesn't get made every day. 

You see, the SS Red Oak Victory is not only a physical reminder of the dedication and sacrifices of Americans for the war effort, but also an awe-inspiring metaphor for what our nation can accomplish when it is united.

Of the 50-plus large ships from the World War II era still in existence today, only four are operational. And those four are surviving and beating the rust precisely because they are operational. Being operational means they can generate the funds needed to assure their long-term survival. So school children in 2118 and 2218 can see what this great nation once accomplished when it saved the world in the mid-20th century.

Unlike many historic ships in this country, SS Red Oak Victory is holding her own financially via cultural events, dances, educational presentations, holiday parties, and rental of the ship's spaces.  To become operational, we need a push over the top financially and that is where your help comes in.   With that help,  the Richmond Museum Association will accomplish their mission to restore the SS Red Oak Victory to operational status and to preserve this symbol of the history-making achievements not only of the Richmond Shipyard workers and the City of Richmond, but also of the United States.