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A Vintage Liner Sails into the 21st Century
MV Doulos
Part
Six
“The
Engine Room”
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The author is seen here in the propeller shaft
Photograph was taken by Sven Benseler © 2008 Reuben Goossens
During my time onboard and voyage on the Doulos in August 2008 I was able to take an extensive tour of the engine room and right down the propeller shaft. As these photographs show she is a well kept ship, considering these are the original Fiat engines which were fitted to the Costa Cruises Franca C in 1970.
Chief Engineer Dominic Bothello is a man who is clearly passionate about his ship and he told me that he firmly believes that the Doulos has at least another twenty years left in her if she was only allowed to carry on sailing. But, regulations are regulations and the new SOLAS - Safety Of Life At Sea regulations come into effect mid 2010, and the Doulos has to be retired, for upgrading her is beyond possibility due to the massive amount of flammable timber that she contains and many other issues that would need to be taken care of. The truth is, to upgrade her would cost as much as to build a brand new ship. Thus, she has to be retired and we will have to find a new future for her, thus, our “MV Doulos Preservation Campaign.” Details at the bottom of the page! I hereby wish to thank Dominic Bothello for his kind assistance with this page.
March 2009: MV
Doulos will now be permitted to sail on beyond SOLAS 2010, but with certain
restrictions in place. However, this fine historic ship has been saved and will
continue to serve in the
Let’s head down
into the engine Room
Looking down from Boat Deck – Generator and Main Engine Exhaust pipes
Chief Engineer Dominic Bothello seen in New Zealand
2008 - working on the Fuel pump
Photograph by MV Doulos’ photographer & ©
copyright 2008
Main Engine Cylinder head platform and
Air Compressor
platform
Main Engine forward exhaust pipe
1970 FIAT Engine plaque
In 1970 the ship received her third engine, for
the SS Medina and Roma were steamships. When she was sold to Costa Lines in
1952 she was renamed Franca C and a double-acting six-cylinder diesel engine
was installed, which had been built by FIAT Grandi Motori in
It would be eighteen years later in 1970
Franca C received her third installation and these same engines are still
powering her as the MV Doulos today. Franca C was taken during the summer of
1970 to the Cantieri del Torrino in
These are Delaval Fuel oil and lube oil
purifiers that were obtained from Indian ship breakers
… and
installed in the 80’s, thus they old and are difficult to date
My host and guide, Sven Benseler – Please don NOT press that
button!
Above and below: Shaft Tunnel - Note the massive nuts and
bolts on the shaft casing
Escape hatch goes high up and is close to the image below
The propeller shaft reaches its goal -
here it enters the timber casing then the propeller itself
Above and below: Main switchboard changed from Dc to Ac in 1994
Generator -
Automation switches and controls
CCS (Central Control
Station) Emergency Bilge Pump and cables for connection
Small parts store room
Engine room staff lounge the place for a rest as well as a place
for prayers and a study venue
Specifications:
MV Doulos: Her name is Greek word for
"Servant"
Built: as SS Medina -
Tonnage: 6,818
Launched: 22 August 1914 as SS Medina a coastal freighter
Length: 130.35m - 410ft
Width: 16.6m
- 54ft
Draft: 5.5m - 18.2ft
Engines: Originally
- Steam triple expansion (1914)
Currently - Fiat Diesels - four stroke, V18-cyl unit, 5,958kW-8,100bhp, Intermediate
fuel (installed in 1970
Service
speed: 12 to 15 knots
Propeller: 1 - fixed pitch propeller
Electric
Plant: 3 AC Gen Sets 380V 50Hz
2 Bergen KRG 6 (1125 kVA)
1 Bergen KRG 5 (750 kVA)
Crew/staff: 350 / 414 (variable)
Special feature: Counter stern.
Keep MV Doulos Sailing – Give a Gift of Fuel
For details enter: Give a Gift of Fuel
Philippines
On November 6 the Doulos entered dry-dock in Batangas for maintenance work. Required was de-fouling of her hull, as well as general paintwork, but also most importantly was the removal of the propeller and its shaft. The photographs below tell their own story. I thank Chief Engineer Dominic for providing these images, it is greatly appreciated!
Please note: The following photographs were provided by
Mr. Dominic Bothello and are used with permission.
These images are © copyright 2007 by MV Doulos photographer, thus, they may not
be copied or used by any other media in any shape or form without written
consent!
Doulos enters Dry Dock November 6
Seen second from the right is Chief Engineer
Dominic Bothello and his very worthy and hard working crew!
November 7, the shaft is dismantled and
ready for maintenance
The works supervisor is seen here inspecting the
connections and the timber linings
The propeller has been removed and is
ready for blasting and sanding
The Propeller shaft Brg
Lignum is made of “Vitae hardwood”
The propeller has been refitted on
November 14 and is looking superb!
By now the Doulos has been completely been
blasted, scrapped and repainted and looking a delight!
The finishing touches are being applied at
the stern
Thank You Sven Benseler
(MV Doulos)
A very special thank you must go to Sven
Benseler. Sven lived (until very recently with his wife and children) 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!
Go to – Part Seven - Speaking
with Doulos’ Crew and Staff - Interviews
Or, return to
the MV
Doulos Main Index
PLEASE NOTE
MV Doulos has been decommissioned in December 2009
Read the …
“MV Doulos
***************************************************
alternatively go to our ssMaritime.com INDEX
Reuben Goossens commenced in Passenger Shipping industry in May 1960
Email the
author – at
PLEASE NOTE: I receive
hundreds of requests for Passenger/Crew Lists and Sailing
Schedules. I hereby wish to advise that I am unable to assist due
to time restrains and as most shipping companies have long gone these
lists/schedules are no longer available. I regret to advise that any request for these will no longer be answered regardless of the circumstances presented!
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