By William Stolerman
Up until last year, the MV Doulos was the oldest active passenger ship in the world. Built back in 1914, two years after the Titanic was born, the ship is now being turned into a luxury hotel by Singaporean businessman Eric Saw.
The boat was decommissioned in Singapore in 2009 and was heading for the scrapyard when Saw stepped in and bought it for an undisclosed fee.
He has since announced that he will invest 7.5 million Singapore dollars (US$5.33 million) in upgrading the 130 metre vessel and turning into a top hotel. Plans are afoot to refurbish the cabins, build a restaurant, banquet rooms and a maritime museum.
In its immense lifetime the MV Doulos has operated in various capacities. It has hauled sweet onions from Texas to New York, served as a supply vessel to the US military in World War I, supported the US navy and coast guard vessels in World War II, and worked as a cruise liner.
The ship will be renamed Doulos Phos – which is Greek for "servant" and "light" and begin welcoming guests later next year.
The Doulos will remain docked in the Jurong district of Singapore.
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