『忠僕號』今年十二月三十一日熄燈－praygo

「忠僕號」真的要吹熄燈號了。

（當船一九一四年建造時，被命名為SS MEDINA 麥迪那號蒸汽船）

（建造於美國維吉尼亞州的New Port News 港，首航剪綵仕紳雲集）

誠實的問自己，會不會難過？當然。畢竟那是我人生最精彩的五年啊。

上帝透過這艘要花一千兩百萬歐元才能回春的阿罵船教導了我很多功課：
看見自己的軟弱和潛力，平凡人的剎那輝煌閃耀，為主服事的酸甜和苦辣，世界各地真正做僕人的榜樣....太多了。

那個不捨，好像是「自己和自己分離」，那個過去和現在的我說再見...

原本以為還有機會再去拜訪，原本以為這艘超過九十五歲老船可以撐到二零一四年（剛好一百歲），原本以為至少明年九月再說（洋運規範一零年十月生效），原本以為台灣又有一位女中豪傑（SHERRY YANG）可以前去短期體驗（都辭職了，機票都買好了，很抱歉不用來了），原本以為又可以期待好像放羊的孩子「忠僕號再度返台!」... 都確定要讓大家失望了。看看下面的報告吧。

這個地方歡迎各位分享你的「忠僕號」經驗、回憶，和一點點最後的話。

以下摘錄自忠僕號官方網站
Sudden end for Doulos
突如其來的告別！
20 Nov, 2009 :: Singapore, Singapore
新加坡電，十一月二十日

包括船上的同工們和全球各地的夥伴們陸陸續續都耳聞「忠僕號」的事工會在十二月三十一日正式的劃下句點的消息。直到這個星期，船上的每一位都仍然對這艘全世界最老的郵輪能夠持續航行到至少2010年九月，抱持著希望。但國際洋運安全單位的調查顯示確定：如果船要繼續她的任務，仍有龐大整修工程需要重頭來過。光是初步的估算，這些工作將會花費高達一千萬歐圓的天文數字。

Doulos personnel and partners around the world are coming to terms with the news that the ship’s service will end on 31st December 2009. Until this week, the crew had hoped the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship could continue sailing until September 2010. But surveys by marine safety authorities confirmed major repairs are required to keep Doulos in service. Early estimates indicated this work would cost over €10 million.

機構的核心行政團隊以及董事會相信，在這樣的時機是不宜再投資如此的資源在船上；尤其「忠僕號」未來的時日本來就相當有限。
The organisation's executive leadership team and board believe that it is not appropriate to invest resources on this scale into the vessel, since Doulos would have a limited future.

「這不是我們任何一位所想見的結局，也的確對船上的每一位同工，以及對我們即將要去拜訪的港口及計畫有嚴重的影響，」國際事工的CEO彼得尼可說道。他承諾每一位在船上服務的人員都會在為他們未來計畫打算時，得到應有的支持與輔導。
“This is not what any of us wanted and has serious consequences for everyone on board and the ports we planned to visit,” said CEO Peter Nicoll. Each person on Doulos will receive support and guidance as they consider their future steps.

「我們仍然要為上帝在過去的三十二年而感恩，這是一個拜訪過超過全球超過一百個國家六百多個港口如此美好的事工，」彼得說。「我們要向全世界多年來持續支持福音船事工的夥伴及同工們至最深的謝意。』
“We recognise God’s faithfulness through 32 years of wonderful service with more than 600 port visits in over 100 countries,” Peter Nicoll said. “We are deeply grateful to our partners around the world who have supported the ship through the years.”

More news from Doulos （更多的消息請上『忠僕號』官方網站）

Doulos Decommissioning – Questions and Answers
「忠僕號」福音船事工必須於年底終止之詳情問與答（待完成）

到底發生了什麼事？
While Doulos has been undergoing her annual period of dry dock and maintenance in Singapore, the ship’s classification society (RINA) has been conducting a ‘special survey’ of the ship’s structure, machinery and systems, which takes place every five years. This survey has identified a significant number of additional works to be completed. No extension of time has been given to do this work while the ship continues to operate.

這代表了什麼？
The additional work would have to start right away, since the surveyors have confirmed that they will not issue new certificates for the ship until this work has been completed. The present certificates run out on Dec 31, 2009.

那有多少的工作要完成，花多久時間，會預計花費多少錢？
Quite a number of work projects have been identified, but the primary one is replacing sections of steel on the main deck. An initial quote has been received from the shipyard in Singapore where Doulos has been in dry dock. This, together with other additional costs, would be well over €10 million. The work would take at least five months and, because of other commitments, this yard could not even start the work until September 2010.

為什麼你們不願意完成這些必須的工程？
The OM Ships executive leadership team and board believes that it is not appropriate to invest resources of this scale into the ship, since Doulos would have a limited ministry future.

這到底是一個突如其來的消息還是你們早就預料到了？
Yes, this is a surprise. We expected that the ship would be able to sail until at least September 2010, with the hope for longer. Out technical team has been working towards this five-year ‘special survey’ for some time. The ship has passed many such inspections, but work to keep the ship compliant with marine regulations is continual. Additionally, a new set of ‘Safety of Life at Sea’ (SOLAS) regulations applying to all passenger ships with more than 36 passengers is due to come into effect in October 2010. Meeting these new requirements would have meant huge investment in the ship to remove all remaining non-fireproof construction materials.

那什麼樣的事件導致今天的結果？
Earlier this year, we reached agreement with the Malta Maritime Authority that we could add our ‘staff’ to the official ‘crew list’, and change the ship’s ‘class’ to that of a passenger ship with fewer than 36 passengers. This would have allowed the ship to continue to sail beyond October 2010. Our technical personnel then commissioned a comprehensive assessment of the ship’s construction to see what work would be needed to sail the ship beyond that date. This revealed significant work needing to be done in a number of areas, including replacement of steel in sections of the ship’s main deck. The surveys in Singapore have confirmed this, and early indications were that the ship would be able to sail until the end of September 2010, as long as conditions would be met. It is only in the last week that it has become clear what these conditions are.

所以OM福音船的事工有沒有未來接續的計畫？
Work had been going on for many months to identify the issues and establish the options for the ship not being able to sail beyond September 2010. Things have moved very quickly now and we are responding to the reality that the ship will need to be decommissioned much sooner than anyone expected. Initial plans are coming together and these will continue to be developed and implemented over the coming days and weeks.

接下來要做什麼呢？
The people on board are our top priority and our personnel team is already responding to manage the issues and help people work out their next steps.
We want to communicate as clearly as possible and provide regular communication updates as new information becomes available.
Our technical team is working with the marine authorities and making plans to decommission the vessel.
We are looking at the possibility of chartering a ship in the interim.

那現在「忠僕號」要怎麼辦？
The ship will remain in Singapore, alongside and/or at anchor until the end of December. Meanwhile, a group will investigate possible options for the vessel, including discussion with ship preservation groups, since Doulos is unique and registered in the Guinness Book of Records as ‘the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship’.

十二月三十一日之後福音船會怎麼樣？
Options include changing the vessel class and obtaining a single voyage certificate for a smaller group of essential crew to sail the ship to a port for handover to a new owner.

現在船上的船員們的下一步呢？現在還有多少人？
There are around 300 people on board at this point, including singles, couples and families. Our Personnel team on board intends to interview every individual on board over the next weeks, and look together with them at the best options for them. We are also appointing pastoral support to deal with the emotional issues that many of them will be facing. At this stage the future options could include a number of different scenarios such as relocating to a chartered vessel as an interim replacement for Doulos, relocating to another OM field, or returning home.

船員（國際志工）的家人以及差派的教會聯絡人應該與誰聯繫？
First and foremost with their relative or church member on board directly, but also with the OM office in their country.

在預定行程中即將要前去的那些港口（國家）怎麼辦？
All future ports on the schedule will have to be cancelled. The team responsible for schedule planning and port preparations will be in communication with government authorities and other partners in these ports. Line-up teams already in place will bring their work to a close and leave.

我們如果有朋友、家人原本已經計畫要在未來這些港口拜訪船怎麼辦？
Planned visits to the ship in these ports will no longer be possible and we regret these visits will have to be cancelled. Due to the uncertainty of the ship’s location and whether access for visitors will be possible, we would advise against making plans to travel to the ship in Singapore. Staying on board will not be possible.

我們要怎麼樣能收到有關福音船「忠僕號」未來計畫的最新消息？
Regular updates will be sent out by e-mail. Additionally, news will be posted to http://www.facebook.com/l/e8173;www.omships.org. More detailed information will be available at http://www.facebook.com/l/e8173;www.omships.org/doulosupdates and we encourage you to visit this special section of the site frequently. Please also contact your local OM office for help and advice.

我（我們）能如何在財務上支持？
If you would like to give to help the ministry through these very challenging times, please contact your local OM office, or give online. Visit the OM website in your country or http://www.facebook.com/l/e8173;www.omships.org/donate. Please designate your gift as ‘Doulos Project’. Thank you for your generosity and partnership.

OM（世界福音動員會）會不會再有一艘船來代替忠僕號呢？
The board has expressed their commitment to continuing to operate two ships. Initial work was already under way to consider options for replacing Doulos, believing that the ship would not be able to sail for many more years. The executive leadership team and the board are considering all interim and longer-term options to continue as a two-ship ministry into the future, in close co-operation with our OM partners around the world.

我如果有問題可以到哪裡去問？
are many unanswered questions right now. For parents, crew and staff, home offices, sending churches, partners, supporters etc, we have set up a special email account at: personnelquestions@doulos.http://www.facebook.com/l/e8173;om.org for questions and to ask for advice.

這一切（的困難）當中，要如何看見我們信仰？
Although the sudden end of the Doulos ministry has come as a surprise to us, we know that God is in control. We would ask our partners around the world to pray with us as we seek His plan for the future. We are confident of the Lord’s sovereignty and grace at this time.