On May 21st, 2013, US Marshals auctioned off the R/V Arctic Discoverer to the highest bidder. Salonen Marine Inc. was that bidder. Salonen Marine purchased the vessel for the purpose of dismantling the ship for its scrap value. I contacted Salonen Marine and made arrangements to visit the ship and purchase and preserve as many artifacts as I could from the ship. Throughout the month of August, 2013 and into September, I made three trips back and forth between Florida and North Carolina hauling items from the ship.

Come along with us on this pictorial journey showing the salvage efforts to collect artifacts and detailing the last days of this historic vessel.