- MV Doulos
The MV "Doulos" is the world's oldest active
ocean -faringpassenger ship . She is now owned by the German charityGute Bücher für Alle (Good Books for All), and is used as a floatingbookshop . The ship has previously been been known as the SS "Medina", the SS "Roma", and the MV "Franca C".History
The "Medina" was built in 1914 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company for the
Mallory Steamship Company of theUnited States . She was afreighter serving theAtlantic ; duringWorld War II she served with theUnited States Coast Guard .The
Panama nian company Naviera San Miguel SA acquired the "Medina" in 1948; they renamed the ship the "Roma", and converted her into a passenger ship with cabins for 287 people, and dormitories for an additional 694 people.In 1952 Naviera San Miguel resold the "Roma" to Linea Costa, an Italian company. At this time the SS "Roma", a
steamship , was converted into a motor vessel and renamed the MV "Franca C". She carried passengers betweenItaly andArgentina . In 1959, the "Franca C" was adapted into a cruise liner, principally cruising theMediterranean .In 1977, Gute Bücher für Alle acquired the "Franca C", and renamed her the "Doulos" (Greek for "servant"). In her current role, she is manned by a
volunteer crew and visitssea port s world-wide.The MV Doulos currently holds the biggest floating library in the world. Normally there is somewhere around 3000 to 5000 books on the shelf and half a million in the hold.Fact|date=August 2008
Doulos is currently in Australia until end of October. Check out http://www.DoulosDownUnder.org.au
She is currently doing her last world tour and is planned to be de-commisssioned in 2010.
ee also
*
Operation Mobilisation
*MV Logos II References
* Gute Bücher für Alle e.V. (2002-2004). [http://www.mvdoulos.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=198 History of a Unique Ship] . Retrieved
May 18 ,2005 .Further reading
* Elaine Rhoton. (1997) "The Doulos Story". Carlisle: OM Publishing ISBN 1850782695
External links
* [http://www.doulos.org/ Official "Doulos" website]
* [http://www.omships.org/ OM Ships International]
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