Travel / Singapore

Doulos, World’s Oldest Active Passenger Ship

By Veron Ang | Tags #Ship #Vivocity

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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!

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About the Author

Veron Ang is the founder and chief editor of Sparklette. She lives in Singapore and has dined and traveled across the world. She also runs Sparklette Studio, a web design and WordPress development firm. If you'd like to connect with her, head on over to the contact page or follow her personal updates on Twitter: @VeronSG.

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16 responses

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uzyn
November 28, 2006

Interestingly, doulos also means slavery. Found that out as I was looking for Doulos in wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doulos
Reply
Keropok Man
November 28, 2006

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.
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Veron
November 28, 2006

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.
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tinkertailor
November 29, 2006

interestingly, the ‘doulos’ means ‘servant’ or ‘slave’ in greek ;)
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Veron
November 29, 2006

Oh! Thanks uzyn and tinkertailor for pointing that out. Slave of God, I presume.
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Trish
November 30, 2006

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!
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wY
November 30, 2006

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
Veron
November 30, 2006

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 :)
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Veron
November 30, 2006

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
pkchukiss
December 8, 2006

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.
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Emmanuel
September 11, 2007

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!.
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Allan Stagg
July 8, 2008

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
Mike
July 17, 2008

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
dinesh
November 2, 2008

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
Harmen Rebel
December 7, 2009

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
Jyoti Singh
December 21, 2009

This ship is the most fabulous thing to teach my kids the happiness to work for God..the satisfaction of giving.
Reply