Doulos, the world's oldest active ocean-going passenger ship
recognized in the Guinness World Records, made its 8th and probably
last visit in Hong Kong Tuesday, welcoming the public on board to
the world's largest floating book fair.
Doulos arrived in Hong Kong Monday. The ship visited Hong Kong
in 2000 last time and will be berthed at Ocean Terminal, Harbor
City, from Sept. 11 to Oct. 7 this time,
The 93-year-old ship, at 130.35 meters long and 16.6 meters
wide, is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's
oldest ocean going passenger ship, and is planned to retire in
2010.
Since 1978, the ship owned by a non-profit charity organization
based in Germany, has visited more than 100 countries and welcomed
almost 20 million visitors onboard in Latin America, Africa,
Europe, Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, promoting good education
through its floating book fair and cultural exchange programs.
The book fair of Doulos has a selection of more than 6,000 book
titles, covering a wide range of subjects such as sports, cookery,
educational and children books.
Doulos is currently manned by a crew of 320 volunteers from more
than 50 countries and regions, including two members from Hong Kong
and one from Taiwan. Each volunteer must find a sponsor for their
daily life expenses and pass interviews before becoming a crew
member on the ship. Most of the crew members join the ship for two
years and also participate in various community activities when
visiting different countries.
(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2007)
