Mv Doulos Back In Phuket In Mid-november

[LivinginKata]

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

MV Doulos back in Phuket in mid-November

The MV Doulos. Photo courtesy Good Books For All.

PHUKET CITY: On the next leg of its mission to bring books to readers around the globe, the world’s oldest passenger liner will make its fifth port-of-call in Phuket later this month.

The MV Doulos, built in the US in 1914, will berth at the Phuket Deep Sea Port for a one-week stay starting on November 19.

Built just two years after the Titanic, the vessel, now named MV Doulos, is currently owned by the German charity Good Books for All, or GBA.

The 131-meter ship was rechristened in 1977 and was given the name Doulos, which translates to ‘servant’.

It currently has a crew of 330 people from 50 countries.

Since 1978, more than 20 million people have visited this ship at 500 port calls in 104 countries.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited the vessel in Bangkok three months ago.

Described as ‘the world’s largest floating book fair’, the boat is at any given time stocked with 4,000 to 6,000 titles, most in English.

Purchase prices for the books are said to be very reasonable.

The MV Doulos has visited Phuket four times before, in 1990, 1992, 1996 and 2006.

Its stay in port in 2006 lasted four weeks as the crew worked to help victims of the 2004 tsunami disaster.

In addition to offering books, the crew will stage performances and activities for a wide audience, and have many international volunteers on board to converse with people wishing to practice their spoken English.

An opening ceremony will take place at 9:30 on the morning of November 19 and the ship will be open to the public from 2pm.

Tickets to board the massive ship cost just 10 baht.

After its arrival, the vessel will be open to the public at the following times:

Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 9pm

Sunday and Monday: 2pm to 9pm

For more information contact Ms Doering at Phuket Shipping Services Co Ltd, 54/1 Montri Road, Phuket City, or call 086-0878440. – Sitthipong Nongkaew

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-11-04

[NBT TV Phuket]

item--4--- on VDO at http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...hp?news_id=1257

or

The world-famous MV Doulos ship & floating book fair returns to Phuket 19-27 November.

The world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship is visiting Phuket for the fifth time, opening her large floating bookshop to the public and offering various onboard programmes and activities. The organisers informed Andaman News that Doulos will be at Deep Sea Port, Ma-Kham Bay, Phuket opening daily except on Monday, 23rd November. Built in 1914, MV Doulos is only two years younger than the Titanic! The vessel is also a floating home to an international crew of 330 people from about 50 countries. Over the past 30 years, Doulos has visited over 100 countries around the world and welcomed more than 21 million visitors (that’s incredible). The ship’s first visit to Thailand began in Phuket back in 1990. Since then, the ship has returned to Phuket in 1992, 1996 and 2006, when over 40,000 visitors came to the ship during her four weeks in the port. The Doulos crew took part in the Tsunami relief work and brought gifts and donations to the people in need. The ship carries more than 6,000 titles covering a wide range of subjects, such as science, sports, hobbies, cookery, the arts, management, novels, children’s books and many others. These books, along with a collection of music CDs, cassettes and stationery items, are on display and for sale to the public. International events and programmes will also be held on board.

Andaman News NBT TV (VHF dial) at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 3.30pm, 7pm, 1.30am & 6.30am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & maybe Mazz Radio FM108 at 7pm in Phuket, Friday 6 November 2009 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ & www.YouTube.com/AndamanNews

Edited November 6, 2009 by NBT TV Phuket

[NBT TV Phuket]

Just been informed they have cancelled trip to Phuket; their email below:

quote:

"To whom it may concern,

MV Doulos, the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship, was scheduled to visit Phuket, Thailand, from 19 – 26 November 2009. A small team from the ship has been based in Phuket for the past 2 months undertaking the advance preparations for the visit.

Currently the ship is undergoing a planned time of maintenance and repairs in Singapore shipyard facilities. Due to some unexpected delays in the completion of parts of this work, the maintenance time has been extended.

It is therefore with great regret that we announce the cancellation of the visit of MV Doulos to Phuket. We sincerely apologise for any inconveniences caused.

Yours respectfully,

Advance preparation team

MV Doulos"

[LivinLOS]

MV Doulos, the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship

How old is this vessel ??

I have sailed on Tall Ships, that were most definitely passenger vessels, and predated steam, and crossed oceans..

[LivinginKata]

How old is this vessel ??

Just Google it ... Wikipedia says ...

The MV Doulos is the world's oldest active ocean-faring passenger ship. She is now owned by the German charity Gute Bücher für Alle (English: Good Books for All), and is used as a floating bookshop. The ship has previously been known as the SS Medina, the SS Roma, and the MV Franca C.

The Medina was built in 1914 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company for the Mallory Steamship Company of the United States. She was a freighter serving the Atlantic; during World War II she served with the United States Coast Guard.

[LivinLOS]

OK well that might be the info that they put on WikiPedia and in their PR but I still dont understand it.

For example a good few years ago I hitched a ride on the Amorina a (IIRC) 1800's tall ship that was a passenger vessel.

So how does a 1914 ship predate that ??

London - New York passenger routes were running full tilt in the 1850's.. The great US migrations were all done in passenger ships long before this vessel was launched. Thats right over the Atlantic not a hop over the channel or the Irish sea. The Cunard lines (started as a packet steamer but carried passengers in 1850 era) were running steel hulled, screw driven passenger liners from the late 1800's.

20 seconds on google just listed the passenger lists for a 1760 ship on the same route over the Atlantic..

See what I mean ?? Just seems odd how AFTER the great US migrations, ALL done by passenger ships, that a 1914 ship can be 'the first' ?? There must be some clause or classification I am missing.

[LivinLOS]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_ship

In fact from the very link on the MV Doulos's wiki page.. WikiPedia is listing passenger ships dating back to 1831.

Or from the first news piece "Built just two years after the Titanic"..

Someones being creative with the PR

Edited November 8, 2009 by LivinLOS

[LivinginKata]

See what I mean ?? Just seems odd how AFTER the great US migrations, ALL done by passenger ships, that a 1914 ship can be 'the first' ?? There must be some clause or classification I am missing.

I don't see the word 'first' in WikiPedia, I see the words 'oldest' & 'active'. There is no claim to be the first.

Ok, the Amorina might be older, but maybe they mean the world's oldest active motorised ocean-faring passenger ship. Or maybe the Amorina is not classed as an active passenger ship. I really don't know, perhaps someone might comment.

Edit update.. Checked a couple of web sites and Amorina shown as built 1934 ??

SHIP NAME: AMORINA | PORT OF REGISTRY: STOCKHOLM | FLAG: SUECIA | BUILT: 1934 | LOA: 48,5 | BEAM: 7,7 | DRAFT: 4,5 | PASSENGERS: 180 | CREW: 14 | MAIN ...

[LivinLOS]

Ahh I get the clause I was missing.. The oldest 'active' ocean going passenger ship..

It was the 'active' part they miss out of both the news press releases.. Its not the worlds oldest but it may well be the oldest one still operating. Even the QE2 is being decommissioned from active service as a passenger vessel as the modern cruise liners offer very different comforts.

As to the amorina I am fairly sure it was a lot older than that, perhaps thats a refurb or recommission date ?? I sailed on her during the cutty sark tall ships race which I think was 84 ?? And it had just had a full refit then and remember it having a fairly long history. Sure looks like it wasnt a between the wars creation but the website they used to have has gone.