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Permanente Metals-Richmond #2

In 1940 a ship building facility was opened in Richmond California to produce Ocean class vessels for the United Kingdom. Within two years a second shipyard was created in the same city to build even more cargo bearing vessels. As with the first facility, the new yard was built and operated by the Permanente Metals Corporation.

America's Marine Merchant fleet had long been a thorough and well maintained group of vessels, but attacks from enemy submarines began to deplete the number of sea going ships that were available for service. A great need arose for more crafts to be built, and they were produced in record number at facilities such as Permanente Metals-Richmond #2. As early as March of 1942 the first ship, dubbed the James Otis, was launched out to sea. Workers at this site became known for their incredible craft and the great speed at which they could finish building a vessel. When the employees at a shipyard in Oregon finished one of their crafts within an astounding ten days after laying the keel, specialists at Permanente Metals-Richmond #2 became determined to beat that record. They succeeded, and set their own record by putting together an entire ship in just four days. Three days later the vessel was fully equipped and ready to go. This amazing feat has never been challenged or reproduced since.

The employees in Richmond worked diligently to create and maintain this incredible pace. To do so, they worked with a large number of materials in a short period of time. One of these materials was a mineral called asbestos, which was found in insulation and other products. It was once thought to be one of the most beneficial resources ever discovered because it was inexpensive to mine, very strong and helped to make goods durable and resistant to excessive heat and fire. These positive attributes were darkly overshadowed by one very important fact that was not fully recognized until the 1970's: asbestos is toxic.

People who work with or in close proximity to asbestos can easily inhale the microscopic particles that make up this tough mineral. The particles will become permanently trapped in the respiratory system, and can damage lung tissue and lead to scarring, breathing difficulties and a few serious diseases. Among them are asbestosis, lung cancer and the dreaded Mesothelioma. Such conditions are difficult to treat and incurable, and they have plagued American workers for decades. People who worked in facilities such as shipyards were subjected to large amounts of the material, and often became seriously ill as a result.

Workers at Permanente Metals-Richmond #2 built Liberty ships faster and more economically than perhaps any other facility. Over time, they made a total of 351 of these large transportation vessels. In 1944 production needs changed and the workers began to build Victory ships, but they continued to finish the vessels under budget and in fewer days than required. Eventually the war came to an end, and the Richmond yard followed suit and was shut down. Currently, the area where the facility was once located in known as Marina Park.

Last modified: December 09 2009.