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World's oldest ship to be converted into luxury hotel, restaurant

Other News Materials 25 March 2010 07:08 (UTC +04:00)
A Singapore businessman plans to convert the world's oldest ship, the MV Doulos, into a hotel with restaurants and a bookshop, The Straits Times reported Thursday, dpa reported.
World's oldest ship to be converted into luxury hotel, restaurant

A Singapore businessman plans to convert the world's oldest ship, the MV Doulos, into a hotel with restaurants and a bookshop, The Straits Times reported Thursday.

   Eric Saw, director of BizNaz Resources International, a Singaporean Christian organization, said he would invest 7.5 million Singapore dollars (5.33 million US dollars) on upgrading the 96-year old Doulos, refurbishing its cabins and turn them luxury hotel rooms, restaurants, banquet rooms, a maritime museum and offices, dpa reported.

   The ship is to be renamed Doulos Phos - the Greek words for "servant" and "light" and take up its new function next year.

   Saw bought the ship for an undisclosed amount from the German Christian charity GBA Ships, which operated Doulos as a floating bookshop from 1977 before decommissioning it in Singapore last year.

   Built in 1914 in the United States - two years after the Titanic - the 130-metre-long Doulos had been headed a scrapyard before Saw stepped.

   The Doulos has undergone several name changes and has been used for a wide range of purposes. It first first hauled sweet onions from Texas to New York, then served as supply vessel to the US military in World War I, supported US navy and coast guard vessels in World War II, and operated as a cruise liner.

   Saw said he planned to channel the profits from the ship's operation to a charity.

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