忠僕號造訪古晉 (上)
阔别猫城七年后，这艘号称全世界至今仍活跃穿行五湖四海最老的邮轮《忠僕號》(MV Doulos)再次靠港古晉，并于2008年12月11日至2009年1月2日期间开放给古晉市民及公众参观，入场免费。
悬挂在道路旁的宣传布条。
Banner at the road side .
开放时间是：星期二至星期六早上10时至晚上10时，星期日及星期一下午2时至晚上10时。
《忠僕號》(MV Doulos) 共有350名来自世界各国各领域行业的义工随从，秉着三大使命:
为民众传送知识(Knowledge)、提供援助(Help)及帶來希望(Hope)，到世界各个角落提供服务，是一个活生生的“迷你联合国”。
前往《忠仆号》的方向指示牌。
Sign board giving direction.
灰暗的天空笼罩着大地，让《忠仆号》看起来充满神秘感。
The weather was a bit gloomy when I arrived at MV Doulos. 
停泊在古晉沈庆鸿码头的《忠仆号》。
MV Doulos berthing at Sim Kheng Hong Port, Pending, Kuching.
《忠僕號》(MV Doulos) 造于1914年，服务多年后于1977年在送去废铁场半途存活下來，並由德国非營利慈善机构「好书共享」（Gute Bücher für Alle）慈善机构购买。經過整修后成為現在的「忠仆号」，自1978年起致力推广全球教育，95岁高龄的她至今已走访过104个國家。
据说，这是《忠僕號》(MV Doulos) 最后一次的航行，她将于2010年正式荣休。
这么一个难得的机会，我怎么可以错过呢？
MV Doulos Was Here In Kuching (Part I)
The MV Doulos (presently owned by the German charity Gute Bücher für Alle (Good Books for All) ), a floating bookshop, is the world's oldest active ocean-faring passenger ship. The ship has previously been known as the SS Medina, the SS Roma, and the MV Franca C.
Built in 1914 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company for the Mallory Steamship Company of the United States, she was named The Medina and was used as a freighter serving the Atlantic. During WWII, she served with the United States Coast Guard.
The Panamanian company Naviera San Miguel SA acquired the Medina in 1948 and named her The Roma, 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 that time The SS Roma which was a steamship was converted into a motor vessel and renamed The MV Franca C which serverd as a passengers carrier between Italy and Argentina. In 1959, the Franca C was adapted into a cruise liner cruising the Mediterranean.
有幸见证《忠仆号》写下荣休历史的篇章，感觉五味杂陈。
Today, I became part of MV Doulos' history.
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.
MV Doulos currently holds the biggest floating library in the world with the mission of BRINGING KNOWLEDGE, HELP AND HOPE to the people of the world.
She is currently doing her last world tour and is planned to be de-commissioned in 2010.
MV Doulos visited Kuching during the Christmas & New Year festive seasons, namely from 11th December, 2008 to 2nd January, 2009.
(English Source : Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
待续 ...
To be continued ...
