The historic cruise ship Aurora, known for its Hollywood legacy, has been relocated from the San Joaquin River Delta near Stockton to Mare Island, the former site of a US Navy shipyard.
Earlier in 2024, the decommissioned vessel started sinking in the Delta’s Potato Slough area. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Spill Prevention and Response unit led an operation to refloat the ship and address fuel and oil leaks.
The Aurora’s sinking resulted in over 21,000 gallons of oily water being removed. Fortunately, officials reported no immediate harm to local wildlife.
By September, the ship was refloated, and on Dec. 20, the US Coast Guard of Northern California confirmed a "dead ship tow" had relocated the vessel to Mare Island.
The ship’s future and the responsibility for cleanup costs remain unclear, with officials planning to seek recovery from those accountable.
