Unfortunately, the damage to the Cairo can also be attributed to the haphazard "preservation" (for lack of a better word) incurred during the boat's stay at the Ingalls shipyard. Except for the initial loss of the stern during salvage, the rest of the damage occurred by natural causes (sun, heat, humidity) exascerbated by the continued watering of the wreck.
In regard to the salvage, the work was not done per the National Park Service and was mostly privately funded by the Yazoo community....