Efforts Underway to Refloat Cruise Ship Leaking Oil into California River Delta

Efforts are now underway to refloat the nearly 300-foot decommissioned cruise ship Aurora, which began sinking in the California Delta near Stockton in May.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Office of Spill Prevention and Recovery have formed a unified command to address the issue.

Over the weekend, crews started installing dewatering pumps on the Aurora, and these efforts will continue throughout the week. Authorities aim to refloat the vessel and remove any remaining fuel to mitigate environmental damage.

The Aurora, which started sinking on May 22 while docked in Little Potato Slough along the San Joaquin River, has been leaking diesel fuel and oil into the Delta. Immediate efforts were made to contain and remove contaminants from the waterway.

The ship, originally christened the Wappen Von Hamburg, was built in 1955 and was West Germany’s first large-scale shipbuilding project following World War II.

It later inspired the 1970s TV show “The Love Boat” and appeared in the 1963 James Bond film “From Russia With Love.”

Sunken Cruise Ship Ignites Government Action

Representative Josh Harder recently visited the sinking Aurora and has since backed the Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Act. This legislation addresses the broader issue of abandoned and deteriorating ships in the Delta, which pose significant safety and environmental hazards.

The proposed Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Act would:

• Establish a process for determining if a vessel is abandoned before removal.
• Allow the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to pay for removing deteriorating abandoned vessels while holding vessel owners responsible for reimbursing the costs.
• It is mandatory that vessels purchased during federal auctions have proper insurance and that their owners can maintain them.
• Give the Army Corps of Engineers the authority to remove abandoned dangerous vessels.
• Establish a central inventory of abandoned and derelict vessels.

“Protecting our water is essential to keeping families, our environment, and wildlife safe,” said Rep. Harder. “We have to get these hazardous ships out of our waters and hold owners accountable.”