April 28, 2026
Economic Development
PORT
DATE: April 28, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Charles Gerard, Port Director
Lizeht Zepeda, Senior Business Assistance Officer
Kyle Lam, Management Analyst
Subject:
Contract with Liftech Consultants, Inc. for Planning and Design Services for the Relocation of the SS Red Oak
Victory
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $299,797 expenditure is included within the approved Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Port of Richmond
budget (Account String: 40163080 – 400733 – 36038).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
As an enterprise fund, the Port of Richmond aims to
maximize revenue generated from its maritime assets.
The stakeholders of the SS Red Oak Victory are seeking
to relocate the vessel closer to the Rosie the
Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park to
increase public visitation and visibility. To confirm
relocation costs and advance project planning, the Port proposes awarding an agreement to Liftech Consultants,
Inc. in the amount of $299,797 to complete preliminary
planning and design of a new dock structure.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: RECEIVE a presentation from Rosie the Riveter / WWII Home Front National Historical Park and APPROVE a
contract with Liftech Consultants Inc. in the amount of $299,797 for planning and preliminary design of the
relocation of the Red Oak for a term ending June 30,
2027 - Economic Development/Port (Charles Gerard
510-620-6792). This item was continued from the
February 3, 2026, meeting.
AGENDA
REPORT
April 28, 2026
DISCUSSION:
On August 15, 1944, construction of the SS Red Oak Victory began at Kaiser-Richmond Shipyard No. 1. The vessel was built in just 87 days. The SS Red Oak Victory is a Boulder-Class ship, built to serve as a cargo vessel during World War II. In early 1945, it transported munitions from Port Chicago to vessels operating in the Pacific Theater.
The SS Red Oak Victory Red Oak Victory is the last surviving vessel of the 747 ships of all types constructed at the Richmond Kaiser Shipyards during World War II.
In 1996, the U.S. Maritime Administration transferred ownership of the SS Red Oak Victory to the Richmond Museum Association. In 1998, the vessel was brought to the City of Richmond for use as a museum ship and as a monument to the thousands of men and women who worked diligently to build ships during a time of national crisis.
The SS Red Oak Victory is currently berthed at Basin No. 5 at the Point Potrero Marine Terminal. Following discussions between the Port of Richmond, the Richmond Museum Association, and Congressman John Garamendi, stakeholders are seeking to relocate the vessel to the east side of the Inner Harbor, near the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) Ferry Terminal. This relocation would place the SS Red Oak Victory in a more publicly accessible location, close to both the ferry terminal and the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park Visitor Center.
Additionally, this move would allow the Port to lease Basin No. 5 to commercial maritime users, generating additional revenue.
The new berth must be designed to accommodate the vessel’s specifications, mooring requirements, site access, utility services, environmental protection, and necessary public amenities. The Port’s initial estimate to design, permit, and construct the relocation of the SS Red Oak Victory is $16 million to $20 million (2027 dollars).
However, the cost of constructing a new dock to support the vessel remains the principal unknown. As a result, the Port issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for maritime engineers to complete the following tasks (Attachment 1):
1. Existing conditions assessment
2. Cost analysis and value engineering to identify the most cost-effective relocation option
3. Permitting pathway analysis
4. Preliminary engineering to the 15 percent (%) design level to support preparation of a Project Description for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance
The Port issued the RFP through the City BidsOnline system received two proposals, listed alphabetically:
1. Liftech Consultants, Inc., Oakland, CA
2. Moffatt & Nichol, Oakland, CA
April 28, 2026
Port staff reviewed the proposals and ranked Liftech Consultants, Inc. as the most qualified firm (Attachment 2). The Liftech proposal demonstrated their understanding of scaling the project to meet the base requirements while also designing the wharf infrastructure that could be expanded in the future to meet additional needs. With the alternative proposal, the Port was concerned about their design in relation to the size of the SS Red Oak Victory as compared to other wharf infrastructure projects.
The Port recommends awarding the contract and full scope of work to Liftech, as their proposal best aligns with the Port’s need to finalize planning for the relocation of the SS Red Oak Victory (Attachment 3).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
This is a planning effort to develop a project description for review under CEQA.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
City Council Goals and Priorities – Strategic Goal Area 2.5: Revitalization of the Port.
This contract will advance the Port’s planning to move the Red Oak Victory ship that will open Basin 5 at the Point Potrero Marine Terminal for commercial marine businesses as well as locate the Red Oak Victory ship in a more accessible and visible location.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – RFP – Relocation of Red Oak Victory
Attachment 2 – Bid Rating Matrix
Attachment 3 – Contract with Liftech Consultants
Attachment 4 - Presentation