Costa Cruises - Truly a world's first.

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MS Franca C.

Six passenger decks were built and new cabins were added.  For the next 3 years it sailed the Mediterranean as the Franca C.  In 1958, the galley and the restaurants were upgraded to the standard of a first-class luxury cruiser.  A swimming pool, cinema and small casino were added for those who wanted other diversions while on board the ship.  The MS Franca C turned her course this time towards the Atlantic, where she also captured the American market, mostly loved by her all-year-round cruise ship status.

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The ship also scored a number of 'firsts' and one of them being the world's only all first -class-only cruise ship!  Costa Lines became the first cruise ship company in history to offer winter cruises, thus basing the MS Franca C in Port Everglades, Miami.  It was also recorded that during her stint as a cruise liner in those waters, her destination brought her to her birthplace, Newport News USA.  It was like a homecoming event for this tough 'American' ship.

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You don't find a Bridge like you see here (above) again.  The original SS Medina's bridge was raised higher as she was refitted into the Roma in 1949.  The Medina's bridge was  constructed with wooden boards are now re-inforced with wood panelling and painted over.  One can see the beautiful wooden floors, woodwork and brass fittings on the Bridge in my earlier post 'Underway, 1914'.

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There are fittings which are part of the ship, left there and were never taken off, changed, or some parts, ever altered.  For such was her 'resilience' toward time itself which one might describe her as a wild stallion - if you can't defeat her, ride her.  As seen in the photo above, the propeller shaft is the original shaft of the SS Medina.  It is, theoretically, still the same ship that was built in Newport News in 1914.

Next up, some interesting 'findings' or artefacts I found on this vessel.  Don't miss out on this.  Subscribe and share some comments because I know you are part of her.

Latest update: I found my old personal bridge logbook of my time as a Cadet-Officer and I'll be posting them up either here or in a new page.  It'll be interesting as you will know what we do, and what a 'voyage' feels like at sea.

But keep on the lookout as you'll be the first to know when it's up!

Roma. A New Beginning.

When it once carried desperately needed cargo into war zones, it now took passengers on Caribbean cruises.  In 1950, the Catholic Holy Year, pilgrims sailed onboard the ship to Italy.  It then carried new settlers from Europe to Australia but soon had to relinquish the unprofitable run.

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In 1951, The Roma was dealt with a heavy blow.  The Matsona Line, its owner was over US$3 million in debt and to solve the problem, decided to sell 15 of its old ships.  Roma was one of them, and seemed destined for the scrapyard.

The ship silently awaited its turn while many of its Spanish and Italian sisters were cut up and carted off in pieces.  But things  had a strange way of turning out.  Roma was saved in a nick of time by the Costa Line ( yes, the ill-fated Costa Concordia was from the same company ) which flew the Italian flag.

It was given a new 4,200 horsepower Fiat shaft diesel motor in place of its old triple-expansion steam engine, pushing the ship's speed up to 15 knots.  It also had a complete facelift and when Roma left the dock 18 months later, a new ship was born!

"While the MV Doulos was in Albany, Western Australia in 1991, I was invited by a wonderful old couple to their home for tea.  There were three of us from the ship that went.  The wife recalled how it was when she first arrived in Australia on the S.S Roma as a little girl with her parents travelling from Europe seeking a new life here.  And she got so excited to know that the MV Doulos was in port a 'second time' since the vessel came as the Roma.  She married her husband, who was a soldier in the Royal Marines Commando in Malaya during WWII."

We Were There.

An 'old' look of us during drydock in Kaoshiung, Taiwan.

No, it's not the RMS Titanic!  This ship was built in 1914, 2 years after the Titanic sank, she's the MV Doulos.  What a privileged to have sailed on her for two and a half years.  A tribute to her toughness.
Built as 'The Medina' in 1914 and sold as the 'Doulos Phos' in March 2010.  She was bought by a businessman and plans are to transform her into a floating hotel and restaurant-cum-museum in Singapore.  Thank God that 'our' ship is saved.  Saved for all to enjoy walking her decks again.

Caulking the decks - my specialty.  Drydock Hong Kong 1991

The last time I was on the Doulos was a few years back.  By then the wooden decks were long gone, replaced with steel deck plating.  I recalled my earlier days of learning to caulk the decks from one dark, tall and (this is true) strong old seaman, Gunnar Stokke - our bo'sun.  He was a fisherman in Norway before he joined the ship.  This tall and gentle 'giant' was so smooth in his speech and character that I didn't dare to offend him.  I just listened and swallowed everything he taught me.  'Hook, line and sinker!'  That's the way.

By the way, I still have the mark on my forearm from a drop of hot melted pitch!  I was caulking one day and the pitch (or bitumen as some would say), dripped out of the large 'spoon' I was holding.  It would not 'run' off but I had to wait and endure the searing pain until it was hardened enough to be pulled off - along with the skin, of course!  Ever seen the 1979 sci-fi movie 'Alien', where the creature's blood dripped onto the floor??  Yeah, like that!

More coming up!  Look out for more postings and other accounts shared about this incredible ship.  Anything to share?  Post it in the comments section.

Underway 1914.

YES! The MV Doulos was built 2 years after the building of the ill-fated Titanic was started.  That's what it means.  It took 26 months to complete the Titanic and we know what befell it right? The difference was that MV Doulos survived till the present time.  A miracle! 

I've been at sea for two and a half years from a 'green-horn' deckhand to a cadet officer on board the MV Doulos (1990-1992). The experiences of the Zamboanga Incident have been one poignant and victorious highlight of my time together with my ex-shipmates ever since.

I do not wish to displace or duplicate any account written and published by any individual or organisation, but this is purely my side of the passage.

All photos are my own unless specified and through permission 

I'd like to acknowledge Pastor Reuben Goossens (www.ssmaritime.net) for providing me some of his photos from his own research, which I would never have the opportunity to pursue.   And this is one ship you'll want to know about, especially to those who have walked her decks.  This is my 'boarding pass'.

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Built and ordered by the Mallory Steamship Company, her keel was laid on the very docks which in the future, some of the greatest warships, and biggest aircraft carriers will be built - the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydocking Company.  Officially named "S.S. Medina" on the 22nd of August 1914 and a month later delivered to her owner for immediate operations.

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The Medina (named after a Texan river, River Medina) was later converted to a tramp steamer, surviving the Great Depression of the 1930s with little changes.

All throughout the two wars, the Medina served in various flotillas.  Bearing many little scars, she eventually returned to the United States in 1946 a 'heroine'!  Even after its years of hazardous duty, the ship was not allowed to stay idle for long.

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There is also evidence that between 1918 and 1919, the Medina made a voyage to Bordeaux.  A signed document in which Roy W. Forbes was the First Mate is seen in the picture below.  He later became a Captain.

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After the War, work began again to refit it.  After the hammering, chipping, and polishing, it left the dock in May 1949 looking quite attractive and bearing a new name, Roma.

Compass Binnacle

Fast forward to the MV Doulos, one of the places I worked was on the Bridge.  Pictured above, is the steering station, and in front is the binnacle.  Originally meant for another ship, this compass binnacle (which houses the ship's magnetic compass), was put on the Medina's bridge instead.  And it has been there all throughout its life.  Thus, making it older than the ship itself!  The 'all-wood and brass' Bridge was the 'look' of its era and brings a sense of nostalgia to anyone who enters here.  Except for the 'modern-looking' joystick for steering, you won't see a working Bridge like this again, anywhere for that matter!

For most of my time on board, I stood here during watches with the others.  Depending on who's the OOW (Officer of the Watch), sometimes we, the bridge lookouts would take turns polishing the brass fittings.  After that, we'll make sure no one touches our 'artwork'!  There was that sense of pride nevertheless, it was, after all, we had touched the Medina.    During my last one year as a deck cadet, my cabin was just one staircase away, aft of the Bridge.

Note: Want to know what goes on in the ship's Bridge? Well just go to "Bridge Logbook" on my blog's sidebar on the right. 

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