ssMaritime.net
A Vintage Liner Sails into the 21st Century
MV Doulos
Doulos in

MV Doulos
Sydney bound
Please
Note: All photographs on this page, except several which
are specified, are by the author, or an associate aboard, and are © copyright
2008 - Reuben Goossens – ssmaritime.net.
My days at sea were about to end this morning
Thursday the 21st of August Sydney Heads would soon come into sight
and the pilot would board Doulos on the port side. Then, she would
gently sail up Harbour past the Opera House, under the
After our arrival and the gangplanks secured
and the ship cleared, it takes all day for the ship to be set up. Soon trucks
arrived with boxes of fruit and vegetables that were donated by a wonderful
faithful farmer and it was gratefully received by the Doulos! The next day, the
22nd of August at
You will find that each photograph will continue to tell the story, but I will return further down the page.

The
pilot boards on the port side

The Author
forward of the Bridge on Boat Deck – with staff proudly flying the
Australian flag

Am I
showing it, yes it was very cold and I did end up catching much more than a
chill!

This is the
Director of the Doulos, Dr. Daniel Chae PhD, a wonderful man and I spend a
tremendous time with him
More on that
on the “Interviews” page

Having tied up in

As we can see, everything is well kept

A spare rat catcher hangs on the wall

We are securely tied up!

These stairs lead up to the enclosed Children’s Play
area

Stephen took this photograph of the Doulos on the 21st just prior to meeting me ahore
Photograph
by & © 2008 Stephen Moore

The Doulos
lit up at night on the 21st

How
beautifully does that Counter Stern show up at night?

Another
photo of the stern

Doulos’
official opening in
Left to Right: Captain Ashley McDonald, Mr. Joe Tripodi, Minister for Ports and
Waterways,
Mr. Phil Costa, Member of NSW Parliament, Dr. Daniel Chae PhD,
Doulos’ Director

“Parade
of Nations” during the opening

The Korean
Fan Dance

The 22nd being Doulos 94th official Birthday, an official cutting of the cake
ceremony was held
A blue 94
was on the cake – see the “group” image below

The author
and “Partner Ministries” Manager Mr. Sven Benseler participate in
the Birthday ceremony

A
group photograph at the conclusion of the opening ceremony – Note the
“94” on the cake
It had come down to what was to be my last day onboard the Doulos and I went about to take my farewell shots of the ship. However, I will take with me memories that will last forever and I pray that the photographs provided on these pages will provide all readers great joy and enthusiasm for maritime history, for obviously the Doulos, the oldest ocean going passenger ship in the world is unique and she is worthy to be retained long in the future in one shape or another!
Enjoy these final few shots of mine. Thankfully MV Doulos will now continue to sail on until at least September 2010 and in November 2008 she will go into dry-dock in Singapore for further maintenance. If there ever was a ship as well looked after as this one, you are looking at it! Remember what the Chief Engineer said, “She can sail on for another 20 years easily!”

Overlooking the Foc’sle

A beautifully
riveted hull and a shapely bow

A fine
view of her mid section

Another
great view of her Counter stern

An aft
view of the MV Doulos

My
final photograph of the Doulos

Another cold
Photograph
by & © 2008 Stephen Moore

By now I had gone home to
Photograph
by & © 2008 Stephen Moore

Another fine study of the “Grand Old Dame” as seen from
across the harbour on
Photograph
by & © Glenn Towler
Doulos
says Farewell to
I found Doulos’ visit to Sydney was rather disappointing, for whilst she was in Brisbane well over 23,000 people came to visit the ship, however whilst she was in Sydney for the same length of time, only 12,000 came! Thus, as an Australian, I was disappointed with Sydney’s turnout for obviously local’s and the media did not understand, nor realise that one of the important pieces of Maritime History was visiting their city and located in their harbour for three weeks, and now she will never return. It was a great opportunity lost. However, the crew of the Doulos does put a good spin on everything, for they are just the most wonderful people you will ever find, and they are so appreciative of the all those who did come to visit the ship whilst she was in Sydney and they thank them for coming and trust that they gained something special from their visit! Many told me that they did make some new friends!
Currently the Doulos is in
Below are two fine photographs of the
Doulos’ departure from

Photograph
by & © Copyright 2008 - Phillip Massaad

MV Doulos receives a grand send off from a
Photograph
by & © Copyright 2008 - Phillip Massaad
Thank You Ken Miller (HQ) & Sven Benseler (MV Doulos)
Thank You! Mr. Ken Miller, based in HQ Germany, whom I have known since 1999, and we have kept in contact on and off over the years in regard the Doulos. Thank you Ken for arranging my stay on board my favourite ship in the world as well my voyage on her!
But a special thank you must go to Sven
Benseler. Sven lives on the Doulos and is currently signed on for two years
with his wife and children. He holds a senior position and has an office on
starboard side on what is know as “
Thank you Sven for everything, for you made what was already a superb event even better and I will never forget the wonderful time you allowed me to have on this, historic ship, as I managed to cover every nook and cranny of the ship from the interior of bow at the carpenters shop to the very end of the propeller shaft, from the heights of the bridge to the depths of the engine room and hold No 1. Also, thank you to Dr. Daniel Chae Director of the Doulos and Captain Ashley McDonald. A special thank you to the man that keeps this old girl young at heart and sailing the world, Chief Engineer Dominic Bothello who is the ultimate host and I enjoyed great companionship with him and his delightful family! In addition, what can we say about all the wonderful Douloid’s (crew) who did everything to make my journey special, you are the best, keep on as you are and keep on believing, for it will be done!
March 2009 Update: Please be aware that the MV Doulos will now sail on until at least 2014, but she will do so under certain restrictions. But, this historic ship has been saved!
Go to Part Nine - Doulos in Geelong, Albany
& Fremantle
- Sept 11 to Nov 29, incl: East
Timor & Singapore
Or, return to the MV Doulos
Main Index
PLEASE
NOTE
MV Doulos
has been decommissioned in December 2009
Read the …
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Reuben Goossens commenced in Passenger Shipping
industry in May 1960
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for these will no longer be answered regardless of the circumstances presented!
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