The SS Jeremiah O’Brien, one of the last working ships from D-Day, is undergoing a critical dry dock visit to help keep her running. The 80 year old Liberty ship carried cargo on several cruses in the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II. But she is remembered most for her trip to Normandy during the D-Day Landings. And 50 years later she was rebuilt and sailed by WWII vets – back to Normandy to take part in the ceremonies.

Liberty ships were built to just last 5 years — so not surprising, she’s showing her age. Yet she steamed to the Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo, California and will undergoing a full cleaning, painting inspections and a variety of repairs.  Mare Island, a former Naval base, has its own special history. Built before the Civil War in the 1850’s — it was the first west coast Navy base in the United States. It played critical roles in World War One, World War II Two, Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War. The O’Brien is being worked on in a dry dock that was used in World War Two. The SS Jeremiah O’Brien is now a living museum berthed at Pier 35, near Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco. Tours are always popular and three times a year, the crew fires up the old steam engine, and takes tourists back on the water — out past the Golden Gate Bridge. The trips happen during Fleet Week in October each year, and again around Memorial Day. One of the most exciting aspects of Fleet Week is the return of the Navy Blue Angels. During the airshow, the O’Brien is parked right in the middle of the pay, right under the show — giving fans the best seat in the house to see and hear the Blue Angels.