Doulos

The History~

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.

The Panamanian 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 between Italy and Argentina. In 1959, the Franca C was adapted into a cruise liner, principally cruising the Mediterranean.

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 visits sea ports 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.[citation needed]

Doulos is currently in Cebu until February 10. For details on their current port and a list of future ports, visit their official website.

She is currently doing her last world tour and is planned to be de-commissioned in 2010.

I had been Enter it for three time in different year~ It is really nice and really big inside, there are lots of books and ect.... i felt lucky that i got chance to visit there again with my friends.. and it is also the last time^^ We will MIss u~

Big ship..... haha^^ i juz took this two picture only~