Doulos Phos, ex MV Doulos, MS Franca C, SS Roma, SS Medina built in 1914

ssMaritime.net

MV Doulos

“A Ship Like no Other”

By Reuben Goossens

Currently named …

Doulos Phos

Greek for … “Servant Light”

The Doulos is seen berthed in Singapore on February 25, 2010

“MV Doulos - A Ship Like No Other” is owned, protected under the International © 2010 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.

Doulos Phos News Updates

August 18, 2010: Hotel, Restaurants & Museum plans announced!

I have just received an updated report from dear friend and brother, Mr. Eric Saw of “BizNaz Resources International Pte Ltd,” in Singapore in regard Doulos Phos, ex Doulos, he and his family company purchased in March. He advises me that she is currently still berthed at a Singapore shipyard, however plans are well on the way for her “new clothes” and her conversion for her role in 2011.

Doulos Phos seen laid up at the Singapore shipyards after being purchased by the Saw Family

Photographer unknown - *Please see photo notes at bottom of page

Two decks (A and Main) have allocated for the hotel side of Doulos Phos, in addition there will be two large (approx 250 seat) restaurants, with one located on Promenade Deck (the original dinning room) with the second up on Boat Deck aft, which will be newly built. Other amenities and facilities will include a Deli/Cafe, a Wine and Juice Bar, as well as a proposed Amphitheatre with an estimated 50 to 70 seats that will be located at the Forecastle for open air talks and concerts, etc. In addition there will be a Bookshop, a Banquet Hall for seminars, corporate dinners and weddings etc. There will be Meeting Rooms available, and there will be a non denominational Bible School on board.

The Maritime Museum will offer escorted tours that will include the Bridge and the Engine Room; the tour will be followed by an audio-visual show complete with a Q&A session upon completion of the tour. The ship will feature various decor changes around the ship in order to capture the different time zones of her history, from the days of SS Medina (1914) to the SS Roma (1950), MS Franca C (1960’s), MV Doulos (1990’s) and finally to the new and refreshed Doulos Phos.

Thus, there will be great things happening to one of the most amazing ships afloat today, and I trust that all lovers of classic ships will support Mr Saw, and place Singapore on the MUST visit list in the future, and if you feel inclined to make a donation, please do so – Contact me for details!

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MV Doulos/Doulos Phos Background

This historic ship has obviously been greatly blessed by the Almighty throughout its long and amazing career. She was originally named SS Medina and was built as a humble freighter by the famed Newport News Shipyards in the U.S.A. in 1914 just two years after the ill-fated SS Titanic. During two World Wars she served valiantly and crossed the Atlantic transporting men and other needs to the front, whilst U-Boats tragically sank so many of the ships in the convoys that the Medina sailed in, yet the Lord must have had His had on this ship for a special reason for she came through both wars unscathed. Later in 1948 she was converted into a simple passenger ship the SS Roma and her most remarkable voyage was when she was chartered by the International Refugee Organisation to transport Eastern European displaced persons to Australia in 1950, arriving in Newcastle Australia on 12 December. In 1952 she was sold to Costa lines to become a multi class Italian liner from Italy to South America, but it was deemed that she was more suitable for the luxury, all first class cruise market and as the Franca C she became a luxury cruise ship until 1977 when she was sold to GBA, or “Gutte Buche fur Alle” – “Good Books for All”, later to become known as OM Ships International, part of “Operation Mobilization” and she was renamed “Doulos” meaning “servant” and as refitted to become a book fair, which was placed aft on Boat Deck where originally the swimming pool had been. She sailed the world and visited hundreds of ports and well over 22 million people visited this amazing ship as she served the Lord! All her crew numbering from 350 to 400, from the captain to a deck hand were volunteers and they would be sponsored financially by their Churches and/or families and other Christian organisations. In December 2009 it was discovered that due to various problems and SOLAS 2010 regulations coming into effect in October 2010, she could no longer continue to sail and it was decided by OM Ships in Germany to place her on the market.

Eventually the Doulos was officially sold to Singaporean Christian Entrepreneur Mr & Mrs Eric Saw Directors of “BizNaz Resources International Pte Ltd” on March 18, 2010. Mr. Saw has advised me that he will ensure that the ship will be fully refitted and become a magnificent Maritime Museum and that she will offer Hotel facilities, Dinning venues and cafes and have a Christian facility and Bible school in one sector of the ship, thus continuing her long standing role in His service! Thus her new name “Doulos Phos = Servant Light.” She is currently located at the JSML Shipyard in Singapore.

Mr. Eric Saw and his wife Alice are both directors and shareholders of BizNaz Resources International Pte Ltd, who are the official owners of the MV Doulos Phos. They are ably supported by their son Daryl who is the Chief Executive Steward of their other companies - “Source Ed-Ventures Pte Ltd” which owns the “Stewords Riverboat,” the “Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill, and “Giving Thanks Pte Ltd” under whose banner sits their Biblical themed Café “Breaking Bread.” Eric’s sister Olive assists as Chief Administrative Steward.

I believe that the Doulos Phos will bring great joy to the multitudes who will come and visit this amazing historic ship as they come and visit this great city, which I believe is one of the most thriving and cosmopolitan cities which is absolutely brimming with diversity full of culture, language, arts and architecture. And now in the near future Singapore will have a superb new maritime destination and the Doulos Phos is certainly one of the most amazing ships ever built and I know that the multitudes will be visiting her!

For further details please visit www.riverboat.com.sg for information on the Saw family other vessel in Singapore and the future of the Doulos Phos.

Photo Gallery

From 2010 to 1914

*All Photographs are © Copyright and may not be copied for personal or any media without permission

Doulos Phos based in Singapore as of 2010

MV Doulos is seen arriving in Sydney on July 4, 1999

MS Franca C was an ultra luxury cruise ship

From the author’s Private collection

SS Roma seen in New York full of pilgrims the 1950 during “Holy year”

(Alex Duncan - Gravesend)

SS Medina the humble vegetable carrying freighter

From the author’s private collection

Return to the Author’s – MV Doulos “A Ship Like No Other” Main Index

PLEASE NOTE:

Doulos was decommissioned by OM Ships in December 2009 whilst she was in Singapore

Read my … “MV Doulos Preservation Campaign” page for details …

on how my campaign saved her for the future to become the Doulos Phos.

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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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Commenced in Passenger Shipping industry in May 1960

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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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