Permanente Metals Corporation (PMC) is best known for having managed the Richmond Shipyards in Richmond, California, owned by one of industrialist Henry J. Kaiser's many corporations, and also engaged in related corporate activities.[1] These four of the seven west coast Kaiser Shipyards were known for their construction of Liberty ships and later Victory ships.[2]
History
The company was formed on 9 December 1940 as the Todd California Shipbuilding Corporation. The name was changed to Permanente Metals Corp. on 8 November 1941. In February 1942, the Todd Corporation acquired Kaiser's interests in the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation and Kaiser acquired Todd's interests in Permanente Metals. The seven-way shipyard in Richmond that was built to fulfill a contract for 30 Ocean ships was complete by August 1941 and Permanente Metals completed the contract for the ships.[3]
The company was originally a major producer of magnesium during World War II