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)
