• IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here.

    The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.

Singapore "Christian businessman" bought world's oldest passenger ship

SNAblog

Alfrescian
Loyal
http://sg.christianpost.com/dbase/ministries/1359/section/1.htm

Oldest Passenger Ship Sold to Singapore 'Ministry' Businessman

Tuesday, Mar. 23, 2010 Posted: 11:52:20PM HKT

The world's oldest passenger ship will be able to continue being in ministry thanks to a Singapore Christian businessman.

Mr Eric Saw plans to turn the MV 'Doulos' which he acquired Thursday into a profit-making venture for ministry.

The Operation Mobilisation ship had been declared unsafe for sailing after 95 years of being in commission.

Permanently docked in Singapore, the ship will be retrofitted to incorporate a hotel, F&B outlets, office space and a bookshop.

Early plans include a children’s school, a maritime museum, banquet and function rooms and a Bible school.


Some of the facilities, like the bookshop and children’s school, recall those on board the former OM ship.

Saw hopes to provide more than functional accommodation on board his ship. Rooms will be made to resemble actual cabins at various points in the history of the vessel.

Some rooms will look like those in an onion carrier. Others will look like cabins in a pilgrim ship and a first-class luxury passenger liner.

‘Doulos’ crew members will find some rooms similar to those they lived in when serving on board the ship.

These are meant to help especially young people appreciate the ‘Spartan’ conditions in which the OM volunteers served God, he explained to The Christian Post.

“We are trying to recapture the different eras in the past,” said the businessman.

Saw incorporated his new organisation BizNaz as a private limited company. However, he intends to operate it like a non-profit.

The businessman plans to enlist Christian clergy and businessmen to provide spiritual direction. Given full access to the accounts, they will also ensure financial accountability.

Saw himself will head the company as a volunteer.

“I will only be drawing a nominal $1 per year remuneration,” he said.

All returns generated by the company will be channelled to Christian ministry.

He said: “Rather than having to seek donations and all, we run it as a profit-making company – of course using biblical principles and values – and then whatever profits will be put in a stash and whichever area the Lord may lead us into we will use it.”

The previous ship owners are happy that it will be preserved and continue to be of service after its decommissioning.

OM Ships International CEO Peter Nicoll said: “Our hope from the beginning (of the decommissioning) was that a way could be found for the ship to be preserved, and I am delighted that agreement has been reached with Eric Saw.

“We are thrilled that ‘Doulos’ will continue to be of service to Christians and the wider community in Singapore and are thankful to God for opening the door.”

While crew members mourned the decommissioning the event was a boon to Saw.

The businessman had been looking for ‘tools’ for ministry when he learned that ‘Doulos’ was to be decommissioned.

Saw explained that he purchased the ship for its ‘historic’ value.

The businessman plans to establish a business link between his new company and two others to “jumpstart support” to the former.

Saw’s two other companies own a Mississippi-styled riverboat moored at the Marina South Pier and a restaurant and biblically themed cafe on it.

The ship, which Saw plans to rename ‘Doulos Phos’, is currently docked at the Jurong SML Shipyard along Tuas Road.

Saw is in the midst of finalising his concept plan for the ship.

When that is done in about a week, he will proceed to write down the specifications.

This will allow the shipyard and the contractors to produce a quotation for the work to be done. The entire preparatory process will take between six to eight weeks.

After that, the actual work will begin.

The businessman estimates that his ship will spend between six months to a year in the shipyard before it is ready for operation.

While Saw could not disclose the purchase price, he said he has budgeted about $7.5 million for the project in total.

This cost includes the purchase as well as refurbishing.
 

wrcboi

Alfrescian
Loyal
sooon it will be using the cannon laws...the church will decide who will be come PM , president and etc......
 
Top