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Several structures at Richmond’s Point Potrero Marine Terminal are in poor to critical condition and require urgent repairs, according to an initial engineering assessment presented to the Richmond City Council on Tuesday.
Damilola Taiwo, a structural engineer with Moffatt & Nichol, said the goal is to assess the condition of the port structures and determine what’s needed to maintain or expand operations.
Taiwo said the Kaiser company developed four shipyards in Richmond during the 1940s to support the World War II effort. In the 2000s, the third shipyard was rehabilitated, and the facility is now known as Point Potrero Marine Terminal.
Berths 5 and 6 at the port have seen limited use over the past 40 years, primarily serving as lay berths for inactive vessels, according to the report. In contrast, Berths 7 and 8 remain active and are currently leased to the Auto Warehousing Company, supporting the import of vehicles from Korea and Japan.
The facility also includes graving basins and finger piers, which are used to berth vessels such as the historic Red Oak Victory ship and other operating commercial ships. The piers on the west side of the facility, originally constructed in the 1940s, have undergone updates over the years by both the port and its tenants to maintain operational standards.
Taiwo said Berths 5 and 6 showed signs of serious damage, including a sagging slab from a broken beam, missing piles, and pavement failure. Berths 7 and 8 had corrosion damage and cracked concrete piles.
The graving basins were in fair condition, supported by a solid rock foundation, though exterior columns showed damage. The finger piers were in worse shape, with structural deterioration in many of the piles and support beams.
“We want to use what we’ve learned from our inspections to provide for the cost to design and construct any improvements we might see needed to either support ongoing operations or expand those operations, looking typically in long-term projects within the next five to 10 years,” Taiwo said.
Port Director Charles Gerard highlighted the aging state of the port’s infrastructure, primarily dating back to World War II, and emphasized the impact of insufficient upgrades and maintenance over several decades. Gerard said the findings will help position the city to apply for grants.
“The more we can document and demonstrate our needs, the stronger our grant application will be,” Gerard said.
A full report, including load ratings and cost estimates for priority projects over the next five to ten years, is expected by the end of June.
“We’ll include safety repairs, recommended upgrades, and associated budgets,” Taiwo said.
Mayor Eduardo Martinez, who participated in one of the inspections, welcomed the update.
“I’m eager to see the report when it’s finalized,” Martinez said. “And you might have to sit down with me and explain a lot of it, but I’m eager to learn.”
Councilmember Sue Wilson emphasized the extensive repairs required and expressed hope the port could become a significant revenue center for the city.
“I don’t know what it costs to fix these things in a port, but I’m learning that nothing is cheap,” Wilson said.
Richmond City Manager Shasa Curl said that initial recommendations will be presented, followed by developing mid- and long-term strategies. These strategies will largely depend on federal developments and interest rates.
“In the past, there have been opportunities to pursue grants, and with all the volatility right now, we think it’s important that we have a strategy since there hasn’t been one historically,” Curl said.
Gerard said the final plan will prioritize safety, business potential, and cost. “We’re targeting a list of 10 priority projects that we would tackle in the coming five to ten years,” he said.
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