Doulos, World’s Oldest Active Passenger Ship

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By Veron Ang

Not long after getting off the plane, I was already on board another huge craft. This time it’s the world’s oldest active passenger ship, the doulos, which is even older than the titanic! It docked at the VivoCity promenade in Singapore two weeks ago and I had the opportunity to do a quick tour around.

World's oldest active passenger ship, Doulos

The entire crew on board the ship is made up of volunteers who do not get paid for their work. It is pretty expensive to maintain a ship, especially one that sails round the world. One of the ways in which the doulas gets its funding is through donations. Another way is through book sales. A book fair on board has books going at rather low prices. The idea of shopping on a ship is quite a novel idea, isn’t it? My interest and curiosity certainly was piqued!

The doulos sails round the world to spread the word of god as well as to help needy people. I spoke to a few crew members who were all from different countries! Apparently there may be more than thirty different nationalities among the crew at any one time, all of different race and profession. Amazing isn’t it? People who can’t be more different banding together with one single goal.

Snowman in sunny Singapore

I have already registered as a volunteer to work on the ship. Hopefully they would give me a chance to be part of this meaningful expedition!

Tags: ship, Telok Blangah, VivoCity

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About the Editor

Veron Ang is the Founder and Chief Editor of Sparklette, a Singapore restaurants guide, lifestyle and travel blog. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and runs a web design firm at Sparklette Studio. To get in touch, head on over to the contact page or follow @Sparklette and @VeronSG on Twitter.

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Responses Leave a comment

uzyn
18 comments

Interestingly, doulos also means slavery. Found that out as I was looking for Doulos in wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doulos
Reply
Posted November 28, 2006 at 9:12 pm
Keropok Man
12 comments

Yes, these few days, I know of 4 blogs that have Mr Pinocchio / Frosty Snowman in the blogs. LOL..
Good on you girl! for volunteering to serve on Doulos. I did not get to visit Doulos when it docked here.
Reply
Posted November 28, 2006 at 9:47 pm
Veron
3438 comments

Haha that’s pretty hot for a snowman! I wonder why all the blogs are featuring him all of a sudden. He’s been around for some time, since VivoCity opened.
Reply
Posted November 28, 2006 at 9:51 pm
tinkertailor
6 comments

interestingly, the ‘doulos’ means ‘servant’ or ‘slave’ in greek ;)
Reply
Posted November 29, 2006 at 12:08 am
Veron
3438 comments

Oh! Thanks uzyn and tinkertailor for pointing that out. Slave of God, I presume.
Reply
Posted November 29, 2006 at 9:49 am
Trish
4 comments

I also had the pleasure of visiting Doulos again this time. I think the last time they docked in SG was close to 10 years back? I was still in school then LOL!
Reply
Posted November 30, 2006 at 12:51 pm
wY

i heard about this ship on the radio.
they had a carpenter’s workshop at the deck.
they once sailed to sudan and taught the people there simple english like apple and orange.
the volunteers then asked what the locals ate and they replied nothing, or water. they probably haven’t seen or ate an apple or orange before in their lives.
the ship’s really meaningful!
Reply
Posted November 30, 2006 at 10:34 pm
Veron
3438 comments

Hi Trish, the Doulos came to Singapore in 2001 too. I was also still in school back then. My friend and I had run into an ex-teacher who told us to go check out this ship. But we had no idea what she was talking about until 5 years later :)
Reply
Posted November 30, 2006 at 10:46 pm
Veron
3438 comments

wY, awesome stuff on the ship. I am so hoping to be able to go on board one day. To be able to help so many people and travel around the world at the same time, I can’t think of a more fulfilling thing to do.
Reply
Posted November 30, 2006 at 10:48 pm
pkchukiss
82 comments

I saw this ship when I passed by Vivo City some time back. It looks out of place from all the other ships, but I thought it was just some foreign ship allowed to offload its passengers without going through immigration.
Only now did I realise the significance.
Reply
Posted December 8, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Emmanuel
1 comment

The Doulos just docked on Hong Kong tonight (I live here), my school is going to see that ship. We got special passes and all that cause we’re an International Christian School. (I’m in grade 7) we also have 60 10+ graders chosen for volunteers when the doulos is docked here in Hong Kong. I can’t wait to see it tomorrow!.
Reply
Posted September 11, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Allan Stagg
1 comment

We are in Durban, South Africa and are hoping that wonderful vessel will soon dock in our port.
My wife is trying to find out the ships itnerary, as we need a new supply of reading material again. I SAY GOD BLESS THAT SHIP.
I have got so many wonderful books and cd’s from her. God is good all the time AMEN.
aLLAN STAGG
Reply
Posted July 8, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Mike
1 comment

Your post made me nostalgic :)
There is a book on the Doulos which you can read or download freely by visiting the following URL:
http://www.thedoulosyears.blogspot.com/
Reply
Posted July 17, 2008 at 3:07 pm
dinesh
1 comment

hi.. i am studying naval architecture in anna university. thats why i refer in this website. but your informations are very useful of naval engg. i like to join member of your website.
Reply
Posted November 2, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Harmen Rebel
1 comment

Hey all,
see that the blog is not updated for a while, but unfortunately the Doulos will be decommissioned. At the moment she is still in S’pore waiting for clarity about her final destination.
Special is that the Doulos will be open to the public in S’pore for one more time before she will start on her last voyage. It will be docked at VivoCity from 15th December until 26th December.
More info with specific times on http://www.douloslastport.com
Reply
Posted December 7, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Jyoti Singh
1 comment

This ship is the most fabulous thing to teach my kids the happiness to work for God..the satisfaction of giving.
Reply
Posted December 21, 2009 at 6:07 pm