Sudden end for world's oldest active passenger ship

Sudden end for world's oldest active passenger ship
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20 Nov, 2009 :: Singapore, Singapore
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Doulos personnel and partners around the world are coming to terms with the news that the ship’s service will end on 31st December 2009. Until this week, the crew had hoped the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship could continue sailing until September 2010. But surveys by marine safety authorities confirmed major repairs are required to keep Doulos in service. Early estimates indicated this work would cost over €10 million.

The organisation's executive leadership team and board believe that it is not appropriate to invest resources on this scale into the vessel, since Doulos would have a limited future.

“This is not what any of us wanted and has serious consequences for everyone on board and the ports we planned to visit,” said CEO Peter Nicoll. Each person on Doulos will receive support and guidance as they consider their future steps.

“We recognise God’s faithfulness through 32 years of wonderful service with more than 600 port visits in over 100 countries,” Peter Nicoll said. “We are deeply grateful to our partners around the world who have supported the ship through the years.”

Message From: http://www.doulos.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=682&resourceid=R18924&Itemid=251

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雖然，早已知道Doulos可能會面臨休息的命運，卻想不到，這一天竟提早來臨，還以為可以到明年九月才跟她道別的............

道別好難，即使有心理準備也很難，更遑論是跟她長期相處的人們，心中的另一方面慶幸著在她最後一年的旅程中，自個曾經參與其中，但心中仍有許多的不捨在於不單單她即將邁入歷史，也包含著她即將僅僅成為平面文字圖像........

----------------Felicia 抒於已丑乍聞Doulos將安息.........
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