Transformed a century-old vessel into a seaside accommodation on Indonesia's coastline

Transformed a century-old vessel into a seaside accommodation on Indonesia's coastline

Ah, let me spill the beans on a riveting yarn about a ship, man! Eric Saw, a savvy Singaporean businessman, got his grubby little hands on a centenarian ship in 2010. This old warhorse named MV Doulos, constructed in Texas back in 1914, just shimagamis after the Titanic sank, held the Guinness World Record as the oldest active ocean-going passenger vessel.

Saw, now 73, recalls fond memories of his kids traipsing aboard this 130-meter beastie of a ship while it was docked in Singapore for 33 years, serving as a floater library for Christian missionaries. But could they've ever imagined they'd one day wind up as its rightful owners or transform it into a swank hotel on Indonesia's coast? I'd say it takes more moxie than most to pull that off!

Initially, Saw plotted to anchor the ship off the coast of Singapore, but authorities wouldn't have a bar of it. After a grueling three-and-a-half years of toil and effort trying to secure the mooring rights, Saw hit the jackpot when a friend rolled him a lead to Frans Gunara, a hotel developer from Bintan, Indonesia. Not only did Frans offer a cozy little spot near the water for the ship, but he also tossed in a prime piece of land for a dry dock to protect the ship from water damage.

Saw, ever the visionary, didn't just stop there. He asked Frans for an island in the shape of an anchor. They say the asks of life never come alone, and this was no exception! As if Frans wasn't already doing him a solid, the man helped Saw colonize his very own island-anchorage!

Now, let me tell you about the harrowing renovation process. The ship's interior was a frightful maze of darkness and claustrophobia-inducing squalor, even if they kept it spick-and-span clean. So Saw, his family, and a platoon of builders span the next few years tearing out the bulkheads, tossing in some reinforcements, and generally giving the vessel a much-needed facelift. They widened the cabins and slapped in bigger windows so guests could bask in the glory of Bintan's coastline.

After peeling off layers of the ship's historical past, they rebuilt the interiors with a dash of modern flair. By 2019, they debuted their magnum opus, the Doulos Phos The Ship Hotel, with 105 cabins, a sea-view infinity pool, a gym, a spa, and a smorgasbord of dining options.

So, was it worth the nine years of sweat and heartache to resurrect the MV Doulos? As Saw so eloquently puts it, "It took almost ten years to restore and operate the MV Doulos, but I saw the project as a higher calling - and it was absolutely worth it." If ya ask me, it's a resounding yes!

Wanna know more about this fascinating ship and its journey from a cargo carrier to a historical hotel sensation? Hit up our website and read between the lines!

1. The centenarian ship, MV Doulos, which was once docked in Singapore and served as a floater library for Christian missionaries, is now stationed on Indonesia's coast, transformed into the swank Doulos Phos The Ship Hotel.
2. The hotel developer from Bintan, Indonesia, Frans Gunara, not only offered a suitable spot for the ship but also provided a prime piece of land for a dry dock to protect it from water damage.
3. Attraction possibilities extended beyond the hotel as Frans also helped Saw, the businessman behind the project, to colonize his very own island-anchorage.
4. The hotel's renovation process was extensive as the ship's interior was transformed from a maze of claustrophobia-inducing squalor into modernized cabins with larger windows, over a span of several years.
5. Eric Saw, the 73-year-old owner, proudly acknowledges the nine years of effort spent in restoring the MV Doulos, seeing it as a "higher calling," and considers it absolutely worthwhile.

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