Sunk California Cruise Ship Refloated After Leaking 14,900 Gallons of Waste

One month after authorities were alerted about a sinking cruise ship in the California Delta, officials confirmed that the 300-foot vessel had been refloated.

Thousands of gallons of contaminated water have been removed as teams continue to mitigate the spill and keep the ship afloat.

In late May, authorities in California learned that the Aurora, an abandoned 1950s cruise ship, was sinking while leaking fuel and oil into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

By the time the Coast Guard arrived, the ship’s rear had sunk 13 feet. The agency limited contamination by cordoning off the wetlands and deploying a boom around the vessel. 

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Office of Spill Prevention and Recovery (OSPR) later joined forces to drain the water from the vessel with dewatering pumps. 

On June 20, OSPR offered the following update on social media, “So far, crews recovered an estimated 14,900 gallons of water-oil mixture and also removed various debris and household hazardous waste. Crews will continue to address pollution and vessel stability this week. Be advised the safety zone around the vessel is still in place. No observed impacts to wildlife.”

What was the ship doing in the Northern California River?

Aurora is currently in Little Potato Slough, an area in the San Joaquin River near Stockton.  

Built in 1955, the 69-year-old ship was West Germany’s first large vessel after World War II. It was also the inspiration for the 1970 TV show The Love Boat and was featured in the James Bond film From Russia With Love.

Because of its storied past, the owner reportedly spent over $1.1 million towards its restoration before abandoning the project and selling it to another owner in 2023.

Due to the significant hazards and risks posed by abandoned ships, the Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Act is being explored. If it is ratified into law, it will establish more efficient processes for the removal of vessels and demand greater accountability from owners.