The 1955 Hamburg built Wappen Von Hamburg Class AURORA (ex-WAPPEN VON HAMBURG, DELOS, POLAR STAR, PACIFIC STAR, XANADU, EXPEX, FAITHFUL) of Christopher Willson seen undergoing restoration as a tourist attraction in Stockton, United States on August 21st, 2023.

Originally built for HADAGs Hamburg - Cuxhaven - Helgoland - Hörnum service as Ferry WAPPEN VON HAMBURG, she was sold out of the fleet in to Nomikos Line in 1960. Renamed DELOS, she was refitted as a cruise ship, and further operated as POLAR STAR, PACIFIC STAR, and XANADU. Her small size and limited capacity led to her being laid up in 1977, sold repeatedly, some of her fittings were auctioned off, she was temporarily used as a Factory Ship for crab from 1982 to 1984, and had had a stint as an Exhibition Vessel in 1985. Several failed future roles later, including as an accommodation ship, floating eye clinic, and yacht, under the names EXPEX and FAITHFUL. She was purchased by Christopher Willson in 2008 off Craigslist for $600,000, renamed AURORA in 2009, she has been undergoing restoration as a floating tourist attraction ever since, being moored in Stockton, United States since 2013.

Sister Ship: BUNTE KUH (IMO 5340493)

Robert Worby photo with copyright, uploaded with his permission.