Guest Comments by Ken Miller
Editor’s Note: MV Doulos, the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship, has reached its final port, Singapore. Previously featured in Cairns Media Magazine, this unique floating bookshop will be decommissioned, says GBA Ships director of communications Ken Miller.
MOSBACH, Germany – A German-based, non-profit organization, GBA Ships, has decided that its famous vessel, the 95-year-old MV Doulos, has reached the end of its days.
Workers built the hull of the Doulos in 1914, just two years after the Titanic sank. In spite of year-round maintenance, the amount of steel replacement and other repairs needed for Doulos to continue sailing would be overwhelming. Now in Singapore, the ship has undergone an annual period of dry dock and surveys.
Evidently the necessary work would cost more than 10 million euros and take five months. Top executives at GBA believe it’s inappropriate to invest so much on a ship with a limited future.
“The outcome is that Doulos won’t continue in service,” said chief executive officer Peter Nicoll. “This isn’t what any of us wanted and has serious consequences for everyone on board and for ports we planned to visit. But we’re committed to operating safe ships….”
Each of the 300 crew and staff members, all volunteers, will receive guidance and support to decide on what’s next. Some are near the end of their service periods while others joined as recently as September.
Over the years, keeping the ship compliant with the highest marine standards posed a real challenge. It’s a remarkable tribute to the professionalism and dedication of our non-profit organisation’s technical personnel that the ship has met marine requirements until now.
GBA operated the Doulos for “32 years of wonderful service… (and) more than 600 port visits in better than 100 countries,” Nicoll said. “Many lives have been transformed -- both visitors and people who served on board.
“We’re deeply grateful to the government authorities, sponsors and partners around the world who supported the ship. GBA is investigating options to charter another ship and has started on a Doulos replacement project.”
GBA strives to spread knowledge, help and hope. It pioneered the idea of using ships to transport literature along with humanitarian aid and people resources. Its vessels have a reputation for supplying quality literature in port cities.
The Doulos crew and staff represent dozens of nationalities. Typically, the ship stayed in port for several weeks at a time and opened daily to thousands of visitors who browsed in its large floating bookshop.
Doulos also delivered aid and relief to needy people. The crew went ashore to provide medical aid, help build schools, orphanages or homes and deliver gifts of food, clothing and books. They also visited hospitals and orphanages. The operational costs were met by sponsorship, donations and gifts, fee reductions or waivers by civic and port authorities, book sales and corporate support in the ports of call.
GBA, earlier known as Good Books For All, still operates a sister ship, the Logos Hope. So even without the Doulos, the good work continues.
For more information: www.gbaships.org
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