Man’s Craigslist Bargain Turns Nightmarish as Newly Acquired Cruise Ship Begins to Sink

Tech entrepreneur Chris Wilson acquired a dilapidated cruise ship from Craigslist and dedicated years and significant financial resources to refurbish it, according to CNN.

However, the 293-foot vessel, now a veritable rust heap, is sinking in a river delta in California, likely marking its final journey to the scrapyard—an epitome of the “sunk-cost fallacy.”

“It haunts me and I lose sleep over it,” said Wilson, a Utah native, in a conversation with the media. “I’m not happy about it.”

This monumental DIY undertaking commenced when Wilson spotted the ship on Craigslist in 2008, feeling a deep pull to restore the ship, once a “pocket” ocean liner, to its original splendor, reports CNN. The ship was originally built in Germany in 1955, named Wappen von Hamburg, and had changed several hands before Wilson took ownership.

Wilson dedicated approximately 15 years and over a million dollars of his own funds to restore the ship, which he renamed the Aurora. He meticulously documented this process on his YouTube account, attracting over 83,000 followers.

However, the financial burdens of maintaining the Aurora became overwhelming in recent years, leading Wilson to sell it to a buyer whose initial enthusiasm mirrored his own, as reported by CNN.

By May of this year, local authorities reported that the ship was sinking and leaking pollutants into the water near Stockton, where it has been docked since 2012.

To address the situation, contractors were employed to refloat the ship. This process typically includes sealing breaches and removing excess weight such as fuel, per CNN.

City authorities are now deliberating on methods to transport the vessel to a salvage facility, while the local community is blaming Wilson for deserting the ship, burdening them with the expenses of its cleanup, removal, and salvage.

However, Wilson has expressed his willingness to assist the current owner in preventing the ship from being scrapped, a fate unbecoming yet anticipated for a vessel that began its journey already decrepit and perforated with holes.

“I don’t really want to let it go,” he remarked. “But it’s no longer my vessel.”

Does Wilson harbor any regrets about pouring years and substantial funds into a venture that was doomed from the start?

No sir. He’s going down with this ship.

“I don’t have any regrets on what I’ve done,” he said. “It’s been a great learning experience and showed a lot of people my abilities. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

More on cruise ships: Cruise Ship Alarmed to Discover a 50,000-pound Dead Whale Stuck to the Front of It, Seemingly After Getting Run Down and Dying

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