A cruise ship bought by an unidentified Utah man on Craigslist in 2008 began sinking shortly after the buyer spent more than $1 million renovating the vessel.
Chris Willson, a California tech entrepreneur, bought the 293-foot Aurora from an online seller 16 years ago. Willson wouldn't disclose the exact amount, but he did CNN Travel that he “works[ed] he makes a very good deal with the owner.” The cruise ship, which includes 85 rooms in addition to a swimming pool and theater, spent three years at San Francisco's Pier 38 before being moved to nearby Stockton in 2012. Meanwhile, Willson and his partner, Jin Lee, have spent huge spent their own money on the renovations.
“I got a lot of roads. I think 10 areas were thoroughly renovated and meticulously renovated,” Willson said. “We worked on the swimming pool and the front deck and replaced all the steel,” he explained. “Those were kind of important areas. So we were pretty proud of it. So we did a pretty good job. Naval engineers were involved.
“We've made great progress with Aurora,” Willson continued. “We had a successful YouTube channel. Everything looked great.”
In October 2023, Willson and Li were forced to sell the boat after a backlash from Stockton residents, who said it was an unsightly eyesore marring an otherwise pleasant view. In May of this year, Willson and Li's passion project began “sinking in 13 feet of water and spewing debris,” the U.S. Coast Guard announced at the time.
“It has been determined that the vessel has suffered a hole, is taking on water and is currently leaking diesel and oil into the Delta Waterway,” explained the San Joaquin County Sheriff.
In June, the U.S. Coast Guard dispatched crews to remove “an estimated 21,675 gallons of oily water, 3,193 gallons of hazardous waste and five 25-yard dumpsters” from the Aurora and attempt to refloat the vessel.
While Stockton has “hired contractors to maintain the pumps inside the vessel to prevent possible water ingress and to monitor the vessel,” the city's public safety officer, Connie Cochran, reported that “how to dispose of the vessel is extremely complicated” because “there is no clear ownership” over the Aurora as it began to sink. He added that the ship was not only a “public danger” but also a “danger to the environment.”
But in a recent Facebook post, Willson claimed that the vessel's “new owner has consistently contacted all relevant agencies, zealously advertising his ownership status and providing clear legal documents confirming his ownership.”
Following the Aurora's cleanup, the Coast Guard confirmed that “extensive surveys indicate no recoverable oil remains on board. No oiled wildlife was observed during the response.”