MV Doulos in Brisbane Australia 2008

ssMaritime.net

A Vintage Liner Sails into the 21^st Century

Reuben Goossens

MV Doulos - 2008

Ex SS Medina, SS Roma, MV Franca C

Part One

Doulos sails into Brisbane on July 31, 2008

MV Doulos has just passed under the Gateway Bridge and continues up the Brisbane River

Although the Doulos was a day late arriving due to having to delay her departure somewhat bad weather conditions in Wellington New Zealand, she had the perfect arrival to Brisbane with a bright and sunny Brisbane winters day. The Brisbane River was as placid as could possibly be and even more so, it looked cleaners that I have seen it in years! The photograph above was taken with a tele-lens as she had just passed under the Gateway Bridge under the guidance of the Pilot and a single tug. The photographs tell their own story, for we see a ship that is a miracle in its own right, for she will be 94 years of age on August 22, and yet she will sail on for a few more years yet. Built just two years after the Titanic, well, we are reminded that some worker wrote on her hull, “Even God can’t sink her.” An Iceberg certainly did! However, on the Doulos they also have a saying, “Only God can keep the Doulos afloat.” And certainly, with the massive maintenance work that is carried out by the ships Christian owners and the wonderful volunteers onboard, she is in a wonderful condition. I attended the official opening on the 1^st of August onboard and I found the Doulos, not having been onboard since 1999, looking just superb, and even better than before!

But now, sit back and enjoy the photographs!

The Australian Flag can be seen forward. The crew and staff are mostly

on the starboard side with flags of the world as they will dock on that side

Crew & staff with their flags on the starboard side

A sunny day and a smooth River

Doulos’ famous Counter stern is clearly shown in this view

The Doulos has arrived at Australia finest Cruise Terminal – “Portside”

Home of a range of Cafes and Restaurants, shops, a supermarket and even a cinema

A fine view of her sharply raked bow

Doulos has its own fleet of mini busses on board

A series of views of the ship

Note the timber stairs seen between the lifeboats - these are original 1914 SS Medina stairs

Under this cover is the massive bookshop

Lifeboat machinery is kept in superb condition!

The Bridge is the original 1914 SS Medina Bridge, but was raised several decks up

when the ship was rebuilt into a passenger ship in 1949

The fleet of mini busses will soon come ashore

Note the satellite dome. The Doulos may be a 94 year old ship, but this old girl is “really with it!”

In this photograph and in the one below we again see the original SS Medina stairs

The row of windows show the main Lounge deck, below is the Restaurant deck, with Boat deck & the Book shop above.

Go to Part Two - Doulos in Brisbane.

Keep MV Doulos Sailing – Give a Gift of Fuel

For details enter: Give a Gift of Fuel

MV Doulos Index

Chapters

Introduction A Vintage Liner Sails into the 21^st Century

Chapter One “Hull 176” – SS Medina – SS Medina -1914 - 1949

Chapter Two From Onions to Passengers – SS Roma 1949 – 1953

Chapter Three A New Beginning – MS Franca C the liner – 1953 - 1959

Chapter Four A New luxury Role – MS Franca C the cruise ship - 1959, 1970 to 1977

Brochures – MS Franca C the cruise ship – brochures 1959 to 1977

Cabin Plan One - 1959 - 1970

Cabin Plan Two – 1970 – 1977

Chapter Five A New Role for a Grand Old Lady of the Sea – MV Doulos – 1977 …

Chapter Six 1993 Electrical Project - “Heart Transplant” in Cape Town

Chapter Seven SOLAS – NEW “Safety Of Life At Sea” regulations to come in place mid 2010

Chapter Eight Onboard Impressions - My visit to her in 1999

Chapter Nine Doulos’ Mission - The work of OM International

Chapter Ten Doulos Goes High Tech - 2006

Ports Future Ports of Call

Photo Pages Photo Page One - 1999

Photo Page Two – 1999

NEW - Doulos - 2008

Part One Doulos arrives in Brisbane – July 31, 2008

Part Two Doulos in Brisbane – Aug 1 to 19

Part Three ex 1950 SS Roma Passengers visit the Doulos in Australia – Aug 2008

NEW My voyage to Australia on the SS Roma in 1950 – by Paul Christmann – Aug 2008

Part Four Doulos at Sea – Page One - Aug 19 & 21 - Brisbane to Sydney

Part Five Doulos at Sea - Page Two – Aug 19 & 21 - Brisbane to Sydney

Part Six Doulos Engine Room - Also, November 2007 dry-dock & propeller & shaft work

Part Seven Speaking with Doulos’ Crew and Staff - Interviews

Part Eight Doulos in Sydney – Aug/Sept 2008 - Including the official opening & 94th Birthday

Part Nine Doulos in Geelong, Albany & Fremantle – NOW online

The Doulos Campaign – We are planning her future after 2010!

Give a Gift of Fuel – Help to fuel the Doulos or provide in other ways!

Return to the The Doulos Title Page

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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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By Kosta Specis & Hun-Eng Tan

Reuben Goossens commenced in Passenger Shipping industry in May 1960

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Please Note:

Photographs on ssMaritime and ssmaritime.net 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.

This notice covers all pages, although, I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!

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