ssMaritime.net

MV Doulos

“A Ship Like no Other”

By Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian - In the Passenger Shipping Industry since 1960

An American 1914 built ship that sailed 96 Years into History

SS Medina (1914-1948) was sold and renamed: SS Roma (1948-1952)

MS Franca C (1952-1977) - MV Doulos - (1977-2010)

Doulos Phos – (2010 - ) now located permanently in Singapore

--MV Doulos Campaign Page Two--

Provided by www.timeanddate.com/clocks/free.html

How the MV Doulos Phos was Really Saved!

Details OM Ships will never tell you!

This page is online to clarify certain accusations that have been made against me by OM in Germany, for they have claimed that they NEVER intended to sell the MV Doulos to the Indians. However, according to the emails sent to me by the leaders on OM, as shown below, they prove quite otherwise! These details are shown in Part Two.

Part One: My time with the MS Franca C and MV Doulos.

My involvement with this ship goes back to 1971 and I have spent a considerable time on her and sailed on her as a guest of OM Germany. In addition I have given lectures and lessons and it was even suggested that I should come back as for at least three years to teach Scriptures on board OM ships by the Director on board the Doulos. Thus, I was hardly an enemy of the organisation. In addition I am the MV Doulos’ official Historian!

I have been involved with this superb historic ship since she was still the MS Franca C back in 1971 whilst she was in Italian waters, the next time was some twenty eight years later, but this time she was the MV Doulos and she looked a delight as she sailed into Sydney harbour on July 4, 1999. I spent 5 wonderful days on board her and had a glorious time.

MV Doulos arrives in Sydney

Photo by & © Stephen Moore

The next time I saw her again was in Brisbane as sailed up the Brisbane River on July 31, 2008.

An early morning arrival in Brisbane as she had slowly sailed under the Gateway Bridge and made her way to the Portside Cruise terminal

Photograph by & © Reuben Goossens

The next day I was on board for the ships official opening. and I boarded her officially that day and spent the next 23 days on board as well as sailing down to Sydney,

Pastor Reuben Goossens (left) being greeted by Captain Ashley McDonald to Doulos’ official opening in Brisbane

Right; Brisbane City Councillor and ex Douloid member, Mr. Norm Wyndham – August 1, 2008

giving several talks on the ships history, being the ships official historian. In addition being a Bible teacher I also gave a number of studies and a testimony whilst on board. Therefore I had a longstanding friendship with GBA (Good Books for All), which later became better known under their new name of OM (Operation Mobilization).

My official Ministry badge, although my surname missed one “s”

Mr. Sven Benseler one of the Doulos management team and myself cutting the Doulos’ 74th.Birthday cake

Part Two: Doulos’ final days, her possible sale to the Indian breakers and her final sale to my friend Eric Saw in Singapore.

Although it had been intended to have the ship sail until she was 100 years old, be it as she was, or as I had suggested have her reregistered under another classification, which would have meant less “passengers” even though she never has any as everyone on board were volunteers, hut technically they were considered as passengers. Thus, what was going to happen was a somewhat larger crew, and a smaller number of douloids (passengers). The idea was she could be classified as a private yacht of sorts. However, I was aware from the maintenance department and engineers that there were certain problems on board and these were, if I can put it mildly sort of put on the back burner and well hidden! However the Singaporeans when she was in dry dock late in 2009 found all these problems and found that she was not fit to sail unless a massive amount was spent and OM was not willing to spend that much on this historic ship that had been their most successful and profitable ship ever! Thus she was placed on the market and I gave them a number of buyers which they all rejected, but then I provided three excellent Christian willing buyers. Details of these will follow further down the page.

Obviously I had commenced the “Save the MV Doulos Campaign” hoping for some good organisations with great preservation plans to come forth, etc! We need to remember that I have been involved in saving some of the most famous great Trans Atlantic Liners and other ships through the “Save The Classic Liners Campaign” thus all this is not new to me! However, working with companies of the world was easy, but working with OM, a Christian group was very different and considering that my own groups around the world had been financially supporting then with countless thousands of dollars and I had a close relationship with them, what came next was a huge shock!

Although talks were ongoing between a South African organisation headed by Dr. David Reddy and OM all things seemed to be going well as they ended up paying a deposit. I had been working very closely with them providing details of the ship as well as her technical plans, etc. But then I was advised that something had changed by Mr. Ken Miller.

Having been advised by Ken Miller that the Doulos would now be sold to an Alang breaker and that an agreement had been signed (but not an MOA), I immediately sent him details of the situation regarding the conditions at Alang. I later sent him and Peter Nicholl, details of United Nations reports regarding Aland as well as a report that was done in January 2010. I also commenced a massive online campaign and I received a massive response, being a flood of emails in supports and many emailed OM in Germany. It was then that OM ships was in turmoil considering the decision that had already been made and, thankfully they decided against signing the MOA with the Indian breakers and eventually withdrew from the sale. Sadly, Ken Miller sent emails to many of my supporters stating that I was a “liar” and that the ship was never going to be sold to the breakers, etc! However, what is shown below proves other wise, for it I present their own emails!

Ken Millers original advice of Doulos going to the breakers was followed up by the email below that came after my ongoing campaign against the anticipated sale to India, which seemed like a justification.

Please Note: The bold highlighting is by the author.

----- Original Message -----

From: Mark Dimond (MOS)

To: ssMaritime

Cc: Ken Miller (MOS)

Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 1:07 AM

Subject: RE: Update on Doulos

Dear Reuben,

Further to that, neither of the other two 'preservation' interests who put in a bid were able to provide our Board with the required confidence to agree a sale to them, principally for the same reasons.

Thus, and with great regret, our Board was left with no alternative other than to pursue sale for demolition.

With best regards

Mark Dimond

The next email came once again from Ken Miller, but he now changed tack!

----- Original Message -----

From: Ken Miller (MOS)

To: ssMaritime

Cc: Mark Dimond (MOS)

Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 12:57 AM

Subject: RE: Update on Doulos

“Dear Reuben,

I have just been discussing your e-mail with Mark (Mr. Mark Dimond). He has already passed your e-mail on to our board, asking them to give serious consideration to the issues you are raising there. (Note: As this was an email sent by me to OM in relation to the conditions at the Alang breakers, if the ship has NOT been sold to Alang, why give “serious consideration” at all?). Cleary, you are upset by the decision to pursue an offer from a company wanting to obtain the ship for scrap (Note; Yes Ken, the one you told me about, the Indian one). I understand that this decision was reached only when it became clear that none of the groups wanting to preserve the ship have not been able to put suitable arrangements in place. You have been such a tremendous support to us and our work and I am truly grateful for your passion for Doulos and involvement in our work. You are also still being a great impulse for our board to consider the situation and I appreciate that greatly. Your brother in Christ, Ken.“

Please Note: Ken wrote “if the ship has NOT been sold to Alang,” and that is true for when he wrote this email she indeed had not sold to the breakers, but earlier OM had signed an agreement of intention with an Indian breaker, which is not binding. I am well aware that the change of attitude was entirely due to the massive pressure that I had placed on them as insiders at OM in Germany had been telling me about for the directors were “in turmoil.:

The following are just a few of the emails received and most are from ex Douloid’s, OM workers, Christians and ship enthusiasts. I am grateful for the massive support I have received, although Peter Nicholl of OM Ships International has sent me a scathing email calling me a liar and a feeder of misinformation, which is totally untrue and he knows it! May God forgive him! Peter Nicholl’s email is at the bottom, where it belongs in the pit!

The next email is from a high raking team member from within the German OM Head office who certainly did not like what was going on within the organisation, and he was not alone as I have received a number of emails from other members and OM ex Doulos crew, who are known as Douloids! I have removed the email details and name.

Dear Pastor Reuben.

We have been told to prayerfully to accept the decisions of the board, but the truth is I have a massive problem knowing that the Doulos is to be scrapped in India and under the condition that apply there. Currently the board is in turmoil for they know that they have made a massive mistake and they are now working their way out of it. I am sorry to tell you but they are now writing to emails received and are sadly blacken your name, but Lord willing one day I will just walk out of here and expose the whole truth of what really goes on here, although I love the work that goes on onboard our ships I feel that OM ashore has lost its way, for you have done so much for us, yet they are so ready to call you a liar, when you have been the only one telling the truth all along! The Lord bless and keep you and thank you what ever happens to the ship, and if she is saved after all, then it will be thanks to you!

This email from a Douloid I met on board in August 2008.

“Dear Pastor Reuben As one of a shipload of volunteers, I met you on the Doulos in 2008 whilst we were in Australia 2008. I recall you not only shared you most amazing testimony, but you also shared one of the most remarkable Bible studies I had ever heard. We were not surprised that you were asked to return to the Doulos in the future for an extended period. Dr. Daniel Chae stated that he was blessed by you, and you obviously spend a good deal of time together. I recall seeing you both forward as we arrived in Sydney as you were in prayer and then an embrace and had a photo taken together. Dear Brother Bothello our Chief Engineer continually rejoiced in the dinning room because of the Word you gave for it spoke powerfully to his heart as it did to his dear wife, Sister Yung Youngsong, to me and so many others! 2008 was the third time I had worked on the Doulos. Obviously there are so many who have worked on the Doulos and I am in contact with many who have that hearts desire to see the Doulos retained somehow and have her continue in the Lord’s work even though it can no longer sail the globe, but will have to be berthed somewhere. Thus I decided to email OM in Germany and received an email from Mr. Miller. He said that “We are in negotiations with a buyer, but due to a privacy policy we are unable to disclose any further details.” Thus, we will have to pray that the outcome will be in favour for at least one of the Christian Ministries that have applied, be it South Africa or Singapore.

The real point is Pastor Reuben, OM has let every single volunteer down, be it those who have worked on the Logos, Logos 2, Logos Hope and the Doulos for OM is a ministry to serve God. And personally as well as what I have heard from many ex OM volunteers, they are greatly disappointed with the new CEO Peter Nicholl and the directors of OM in Germany! They are supposed to be exemplary figures in the Lords work, but certain ‘factors’ seems to mean more to OM then their commitment to God and that in reality includes current and past volunteers who have worked very hard to improve living standards and introduce the love of God to a world that needed it most. To lie and deceive is what the CEO and Directors of OM have done and there is no excuse for them whatsoever!

Pastor Reuben be assured there are Churches, such as our and others that admire your Christian dedication to preserve the Doulos and see it continue in the Lords work. Some say that you may have been somewhat hard, and you certainly have, but, you stopped OM in their tracks, for they were going to sell her to those Indians, let’s face it, Jesus our Lord and Saviour certainly knew how to speak out against those who did wrong “Get behind me Satan” … get it OM? And you Pastor Reuben was rather mild in comparison! In addition, I feel that it is also important to maintain this ship for the mere reason for its unique 95 year history, for we waste far too much of our sea heritage! Over the years I have had many callings from the Lord and in 1985 and then again 1999 I worked on the Doulos first for three months then three years and again whilst she was in New Zealand and Australia what turned out to be her final voyage for OM.”

“I have been involved in the maritime industry for over 25 years and have seen the Doulos several times throughout my sailing carrier, first time in 1984. What a beauty she was then!! In 2005 she was in Chennai where I met many of the crew, some of whom are still friends today. I love maritime history and with great interest I am reading your website articles, what a great source of information! No surprise, I like your “Classic Ship of the Month” with the pictures. Flip me, how come she looked so good until recently and now Doulos is going out of business?!? It seems strange these folks at OM don’t know quite what to do with their ship, but the latest I heard is that Disney Hong Kong has shown serious interest using the ship for their theme park and an offer is expected soon. Asking me - the Doulos could be serious cash for them and preserving this ship at the same time! Anyway, it will be very interesting to read what is going to happen to her. Keep up your good work with your maritime history website, it is so enjoyable!”

“I am in full support of your "Save the MV Doulos campaign". I have seen your website and found it very interesting. I have visited the Doulos twice and was saddened to hear of its decommissioning, especially as I would have liked to do a “STEP programme” on her. It is a shame as to what as happened, but I am sure that God still has a plan for the ship and pray that this will be done. Many thanks for your efforts.”

Then the following email arrived from Peter Nichol with a rather harsh accusation.

Reuben.

Let me assure you I have presented the most accurate and the only true picture that you will receive, for OM Ships never told you that she would be sold to India (Yes you did!) where she would become the very opposite to what she is known for; a Ship of “Knowledge, Help and Hope” for had she gone to India she would have become the very opposite, the ship of “gloom, despair and death!” “In the light of all the lies and misinformation you have distributed and lies and misinformation you have believed about us, discarding the 40 years of ministry integrity of OM Ships, I struggle to reply in any detail to your email. Forgive me, I find I am unable at this stage to trust you. I am grateful for the growing number who are asking for the truth and expressing their support and encouragement for us when they realise you have completely misrepresented us.

Peter Nicoll.”

He has obviously not read the previous emails, as both mentioned including Mark Dimond and Ken Miller had mentioned India and or the breakers!

In addition I received many emails from supporters that contained a copy of what Ken Miller was writing those who had emailed.

I am disturbed by the inaccurate and misleading information being presented recently on the ssmaritime website. The author is very passionate about the ship, and a great fan of our work as you can see from all the information about the ship presented on his site. Nevertherless, what is presented there is not an accurate picture of the current situation, our decisions, or our motives.” Ken Miller.

The three main buyers:

Just for interest, I had three buyers at hand for a considerable time, but OM made the conditions close to impossible for them to obtain her. The very best of the intended purchasers was the South African Christian organisation “Ships Ministry” that would be known as the “Doulos Ships Ministry” and she was to be berthed in South Africa. They had all their plans well advanced and were well financed and had paid a deposit for the Doulos, but were told 10 days prior balance of payment that the deal was off and OM had sold her to an Indian buyer. The head of a well known large Christian South African organisation is Dr. David Reddy. The second one did pull our I have to say, but this was the past Director of the MV Doulos, who I know personally Dr. Daniel Chae PhD of South Korea, but his group was unable to obtain a berth. The third was the eventual winner and purchaser of the MV Doulos a Christian Group headed by the family of Mr & Mrs. Eric and Alice Saw of “BizNaz Resources International Pte Ltd,” Singapore, who already has another boat there, and knowing from my inside information that the OM Board was in total turmoil at the time, I advised Eric Saw to resubmit another bid for the Doulos for I knew that he would get her and of course he did! Just a month after all the attacks on me by OM Germany, for on March 18, 2010 the MV Doulos was handed over to then in Singapore and the Doulos was SAVED! Today she is known as the MV Doulos Phos, which means Servant Light!

See Doulos Phos – Her Rebuilding Details for how the Doulos Phos will be rebuilt into a new venture for Singapore!

MV Doulos Phos is seen at the Singapore ship Yards

Read the Author’s Online Book on this remarkable and Historic Ship

“MV Doulos - A Ship Like No Other”

Enter the Main Index

Please Note: This feature is located on my ssmaritime.net site

Each page has a link back to the Main Index on ssmaritime.com

Visit the Doulos Phos website in Singapore

(Read about their Riverboat and then click on the Doulos Phos image at the top of the page)

**************************************

If you have enjoyed this feature and you feel you might have something of interest to add, be it a story or some photographs, I would appreciate hearing from you!

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Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me without details provided regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet they either refuse to give me credit and even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.

Copyright: “MV Doulos - A Ship Like No Other” is owned, protected under the International © copyright laws and is the property of Reuben Goossens of ssmaritime.net. No part of this work including any of the images shown may be copied or reproduced by any means or reproduced by any format whatsoever, be it for private or commercial usage, without prior written permission from the author.

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