In 1914, two years after the launch of the “Titanic,” a steam-powered vessel named SS Medina left the shipyard in Newport News, Virginia. Built to transport onions and other produce, the ship could not have foreseen the remarkable journey ahead. More than a century later, it now stands on solid ground, reimagined as a luxury hotel worth $18 million.

Over its 111-year history, the ship has carried many identities. It served during World War II, was transformed into a passenger liner, sailed as a missionary ship, and even survived a terrorist attack. Today, it lives its newest life on the Indonesian island of Bintan, where businessman Eric Saw turned it into a one-of-a-kind hotel experience.

A Vessel That Refused to Fade Away

The ship’s career is a story of reinvention. After its wartime role, it became the SS Roma, equipped with a diesel engine. Later, it sailed as the MS Franca C cruise liner. It was purchased by a Christian organization in 1977, who changed its name to MV Doulos and converted it into a floating library and missionary ship.

Instagram | @shipfacts1 | The ship carried many lives and stories across seas before finding a new purpose.

For over 30 years, the ship traveled 360,000 nautical miles and visited more than 100 countries. Its story was not without danger. In 1991, separatists in the Philippines attacked it with grenades, killing two missionaries. Yet, the vessel endured.

Eventually, age caught up. By 2010, the ship could no longer meet updated maritime safety standards. It was placed in a Singapore dockyard, waiting for buyers. Some planned to dismantle it for scrap. But Eric Saw had another vision.

Eric Saw’s Bold Decision

Saw, a Singaporean entrepreneur, stepped in when most had given up hope. Having once operated a restaurant on a Mississippi-style paddle steamer, he dreamed of turning the vessel into something lasting. Without a full plan in place, he paid €900,000 (about $1.1 million) to secure ownership.

That decision marked the beginning of a long, expensive journey. Saw spent years negotiating for a permanent home for the vessel. Singapore rejected his proposals, but neighboring Indonesia offered an alternative. On Bintan Island, developers agreed to reclaim land where the ship could rest.

Not just any land, though. Saw requested an anchor-shaped peninsula, a symbolic tribute to the vessel’s nautical legacy. His request was granted, and construction began in 2014.

The Herculean Task of Moving a Giant

Relocating a 6,800-ton vessel onto land was no small feat. Engineers dug a basin near the shoreline and built a massive platform with piles drilled more than 130 feet into the bedrock. The ship was pulled ashore using large airbags as rollers and winches that inched it forward.

The process stretched for seven weeks, far longer than expected. Saw later recalled the frustration of days when the vessel moved barely a meter. Yet, with persistence, the MV Doulos finally reached its new home.

Rebirth as the Doulos Phos

Renamed Doulos Phos, meaning “Servant of Light” in Greek, the ship underwent an extensive transformation. Naval architects worked alongside traditional designers to preserve its structure while converting it into a modern hotel.

Fuel tanks and bulkheads were removed to create spacious cabins. Elevators, plumbing, fire escapes, and new electrical systems were installed to meet building standards. Today, the ship offers 93 cabins, ranging from modest rooms with porthole windows to suites with private sea-view balconies. Prices range from $105 to $235 per night.

Instagram | @doulosphostheshiphotel | The historic vessel now welcomes guests with comfort while keeping its maritime spirit alive.

Despite modernization, many original features remain. Guests can explore the old engine room, view six original lifeboats, and walk along decks that still carry traces of its seafaring history. Some of the rivets removed during renovation now serve as design elements inside the hotel, preserving the vessel’s maritime soul.

Weathering Setbacks

The hotel first opened in 2019, but timing proved unkind. Pandemic restrictions hit Bintan’s tourism industry hard. Borders remained closed until 2023, delaying operations and halting visitor numbers.

Now, with tourism returning, the hotel is ready for guests again. Saw envisions it attracting history enthusiasts, families, and travelers seeking a truly distinctive stay. His attention to detail even extends to language. Employees are “crew,” not staff. Guests stay in “cabins,” not rooms. Every element works to keep the nautical spirit alive.

Preserving a Living Legacy

Saw often refers to the vessel as the “grand old lady of the seas.” His goal has never been just profit. All hotel proceeds go to Christian charitable causes, while he himself takes a symbolic annual salary of just $1.

Maintaining the vessel is still a constant battle. Rust remains a relentless adversary. Saw explained that by the time workers finish repainting the stern, the bow often needs fresh attention again. Yet, the ongoing struggle reflects his determination to keep the vessel alive for generations.

A Guest Experience Unlike Any Other

Staying at the Doulos Phos is unlike a conventional hotel visit. Guests walk down narrow corridors with low ceilings, open heavy metal doors, and peer through portholes at the sea. Some even report feeling slightly seasick because the experience feels so authentic.

Saw notes that many visitors enjoy recreating the famous scene from “Titanic,” where Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet stretch out at the bow. The ship’s decks make this iconic moment possible for guests, tying maritime history with pop culture.

From Scrap to Symbol

Instagram | @subanedyono | The ship’s journey of survival now shines as a lasting symbol of history and hospitality.

When Saw first acquired the vessel, scrapping seemed like its likely fate. Instead, through vision, persistence, and millions of dollars, it was reborn as something that honors both history and hospitality.

Every cabin, deck, and corridor tells part of the story. The SS Medina carried onions, served in wars, hosted missionaries, and welcomed passengers across decades. Now, as the Doulos Phos Hotel, it continues to serve — not on water, but on land.

Looking Ahead

Saw often says the ship could last another 111 years if cared for properly. Every renovation, he insists, remains reversible. Should anyone ever wish to return the vessel to sea, it could be done. While that scenario is unlikely, the thought highlights the remarkable resilience of its construction.

For Saw, though, the ship’s purpose has already been fulfilled. “She is nothing but a mass of steel,” he once remarked. “It is what we do with her that gives meaning.”

The Doulos Phos Hotel is more than accommodation. It’s a living museum, a historical landmark, and a tribute to maritime endurance. Guests don’t just stay overnight; they step into over a century of human ambition, innovation, and survival.

From carrying onions in Virginia to standing proudly on an anchor-shaped island in Indonesia, the ship’s journey reflects one truth: history lives on when people dare to preserve it.