JOHOR BARU: Volunteering to be on board the world’s oldest passenger ship MV Doulos is a great way to learn the cultures of other countries, said Australian Oliver Crispin (pic).
The 21-year-old from Tasmania said he would not trade anything in the world for the life experiences he received on board the ship which is a floating bookstore where people are also allowed to read books for free.
“Being on board the ship outweighs anything else that I have ever done,” said Crispin, adding that he had visited over 10 countries so far.
The MV Doulos, a 130m-long vessel is the second largest floating bookstore with over 6,000 titles. It stopped at Pasir Gudang port recently.
Although the volunteers work on the ship, they are still required to pay for food and lodging which would amount to about US$350 (RM1,209) monthly.
Crispin said his family agreed to chip in for his voyage when he brought up the matter two years ago. Now he plans to extend his work for another year.
He does maintenance work in the engine room and prepares the ship for docking.
Ship media relations officer Floyd Bascones said there were over 320 volunteer crew from over 50 countries on board the ship.
The vessel built in 1914 is even older than the Titanic.
Books on a boat: Children browsing through a section of the floating bookstore onboard the 95-year-old MV Doulos berthed in Pasir Gudang recently. Bascones explained that the ship was operated by German-based GBA Ships, a non-profit organisation,
Twenty-four-year-old Panamanian Aileen Arauz, who works in the bookstore, said her family and friends funded her voyage which started about a year ago.
Having travelled to nine countries, she said she loved watching the sunset from the ship .
The MV Doulos is open to the public between 10.30am and 10pm from Tuesday to Saturday and between 2pm and 10pm on Sunday and Monday. Entrance fee is RM1.
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