World's oldest surviving ship to be converted to hotel
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The M.V. Doulos, listed in the Guiness Book of Records as the oldest active ocean going passenger ship in the world, will be converted into a hotel which will be anchored off Bintan. The refurbishment is expected to be completed by Aug 2014, according to Eric Saw, director of Biznaz
"When she was in Singapore in late 2009, she had been put up for sale, and the grapevine was rife with talk that she would be scrapped if no suitable buyer was found," said Eric Saw.
"Such heritage spanning almost a century is what sets her apart and makes her so special. The romance of the high seas will always be in her," said Eric Saw.
"Plans are underway to convert her into a maritime heritage lifestyle hub complete with hotel cabins, food and beverage outlets, spa facilities, recreation, banquet and conference halls as well as a walk-through maritime museum,"
"An interesting feature would be her being dry-berthed on land complete with surrounding land facilities and amenities rather than being on water,"
"Whilst Doulos (now renamed Doulos Phos, meaning Servant Light in Greek) will no longer be sailing the high seas, there are plans to keep her heritage alive; all the way from when she was first built in 1914 as a freighter (S.S. Medina), through to her conversion to become a pilgrim vessel (S.S. Roma), then another conversion to become an all-first-class cruise ship (M.s. Franca C), and then again to M.V. Doulos,"
