HomeBlogMan ‘Haunted’ After Spending $1,000,000 On Cruise Ship Only To Find A Major Issue

Man ‘Haunted’ After Spending $1,000,000 On Cruise Ship Only To Find A Major Issue

September 26, 2024
Chris Willson spent over 15 years restoring Aurora to its former glory but not everyone was as enthusiastic about the historic cruise ship

A man has shared his heartbreak after hearing tragic news about the historic cruise ship he spent 15 years restoring.

In 2008, Chris Willson from Utah stumbled across a historic cruise ship for sale on Craigslist. What started as an exciting project to bring the ship back to life turned into a passion, as he envisioned turning the vessel into a museum. Chris even made the ship his home, mooring it in the California Delta while working on the restoration.

The ship, originally named Wappen von Hamburg, was a significant part of history. It was the first major passenger liner built in Germany after World War II. By 2012, Chris had made considerable progress on the 293-foot vessel, which included 85 cabins, a swimming pool, and a theater. He renamed the ship Aurora.

Talking to CNN, Chris shared, “I think we had 10 areas solidly restored and refurnished meticulously. These were kind of major areas. So we were pretty proud of that.”

The restoration, however, didn’t come cheap. Chris estimated he spent over $1 million on the project, and while there were a few donations, most of the funds came from his pocket. Despite the cost, he believed the progress was “terrific” and that “everything was looking great.

But not everyone shared his enthusiasm. Some locals were unhappy with such a large ship being moored nearby.

The AuroraFacebook/Christopher Willson

Things took a turn for the worse when a military tugboat, docked next to the Aurora, sank, creating a pollution problem.

This incident was just the beginning of Chris’s challenges. In 2023, faced with a bill of about a million dollars to relocate the ship, Chris made the difficult decision to sell the Aurora.

“We absolutely loved our time with that ship. [Selling it] was probably the hardest thing I’ve done in my life,” Chris admitted.

“It haunts me, and I lose sleep over it. I’m not happy about it.”

Sadly, Chris’s story took an even more devastating turn. In May, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the Aurora had started sinking.

The announcement read: “It has been determined the ship has suffered a hole and is taking on water and is currently leaking diesel fuel and oil into the Delta Waterway. Our Boating Safety Unit and ground units are currently on scene coordinating efforts to contain the spill.”

The ship began ‘sinking’ in MayTwitter/@SJSheriff

Reacting to the heartbreaking news, Chris shared his feelings on Facebook:

“I spent some of the best times of my life aboard the Aurora with my most cherished friends and family. She was truly an amazing ship. Leaving this project was by far the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. There is a HUGE story behind all of this and I am more anxious than ever to tell but at the appropriate time. To hear of her sinking was a heavy blow to me. My heart sank and I likely will not recover from this for some time. I feel like I lost a member of my family. I spoke with the new owner a few times over the last months. Seemed he was doing a great deal of clean up and setting things up his way. I wish him the best in all of this.”

Chris also mentioned that he had spoken with the new owner and noticed they were making efforts to clean and restore the ship their way. He wished them well despite the circumstances.

Thankfully, there’s a glimmer of hope. In June, CBS News reported that around 14,900 gallons of oil-contaminated water had been removed from the area by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Spill Prevention & Response team. The ship was also refloated with the help of dewatering pumps.

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