From Abandoned Rust to Luxury: The Transformation of the World’s Oldest Ocean Liner into a £13 Million Beachfront Hotel

Table of Contents

• Transformation of Doulos Phos
• History of the Ship
• Eric Saw's Vision
• Investment and Philanthropy

RESCUED from the clutches of shipbreakers, the world’s oldest ocean liner has been transformed into a luxurious multi-million-dollar beachfront hotel.

Docked on dry land on an artificial island shaped like an anchor, the Doulos Phos has undergone an extraordinary transformation.

The ship features 93 luxury rooms for guestsCredit: Booking.com The interior was completely renovated into a five-star hotelCredit: Booking.com Doulos previously served as a missionary ship and floating library before facing the scrapyardCredit: Alamy

After a century at sea and more than 360,000 nautical miles traveled, she has transformed from a rusty relic to the centerpiece of a five-star luxury resort.

Singaporean entrepreneur Eric Saw invested 15 years and £13 million to convert the historic vessel into a premier tourist attraction on the tropical Indonesian island of Bintan.

The 74-year-old businessman acquired the ship in 2010, rescuing it from a grim fate as scrap metal, he shared with CNN.

Considered unseaworthy, Eric had an artificial peninsula constructed to house the 111-year-old vessel, which was then gutted and renovated.

“All her cabins were very small and quite basic,” Eric explained.

“Many of the portholes were just small holes positioned high to prevent water from entering. Typically, one cabin had two double bunks, accommodating four people in one room.”

Now, she features 93 beautifully refurbished cabins for guests seeking a distinctive experience.

Built in 1914, the ship has a varied history—from transporting onions to serving as a floating Christian missionary and library.

She was even involved in a terrorist attack that resulted in two fatalities.

Her previous owner was poised to scrap her when Eric made the winning bid of £800,000.

The journey to becoming a luxury hotel was lengthy and challenging; her engines had been decommissioned, necessitating that she be towed over 30 miles to her final destination.

It took seven “nerve-wracking” weeks to place her onto the artificial island, with progress sometimes as slow as less than 3 feet per day.

“As the process dragged on, I admit I felt discouraged. Yet I held onto the hope that we would realize the vision placed in our hearts,” Eric remarked.

This monumental task was more than just a passion project for Eric, who acknowledged that he could have purchased a Ferrari and Lamborghini and traveled the world each year with his family instead of investing in the old ship.

He only takes a nominal annual salary of $1 and donates the hotel’s operational profits to Christian charitable organizations.

He is indifferent to whether he ever recoups his £13 million investment.

“She is merely a mass of steel,” he stated.

“What gives her meaning is what we choose to do with her.”

The ship, as seen in 2005, was functioning as a missionary vessel at that timeCredit: EPA The luxury resort is located on the island of Bintan, IndonesiaCredit: Booking.com