Dear friends and co-workers,

We continue to look back at the Doulos ministry with gratitude and praise to God. Please continue to pray that the last stages of her journey would still exhibit God's providence.

Most of us had really been hoping that there would be an opportunity for her to continue in ministry from a fixed berth. We have been in ongoing negotiations with a group in South Africa to this end, but they have not been able to put the necessary arrangements in place for this to happen. We have also been working with two other groups to try to secure the preservation of the vessel, but both came to the conclusion that it would be technically and financially too challenging.

This leaves us only with the other offers to purchase the ship for scrap, and with heavy hearts, the subcommittee of the OM Ships board has asked our broker to begin detailed negotiations to secure what we believe is the best offer. We need to complete the process of sale and delivery before the class certification runs out at the end of March.

Doulos is currently in a shipyard in Singapore where we are unloading the books and equipment that we plan to keep or give to others. The leased satellite communication system is being dismantled and taken off the ship, so the US satellite telephone number will no longer work from today. Alternative arrangements for e-mail are in place. Pray for safety and that we will be able to complete the loading and sending of containers before the beginning of Chinese New Year holidays on 14 February.

We greatly appreciate your continued prayer and support through this process of decommissioning and the sale of the vessel. Pray especially for the smaller community of about 120 left on board, and for those whose next steps are not yet clear. Thank you again for your partnership with OM Ships, and your involvement in the ministry of Doulos.

In Him,
Peter Nicoll
CEO, OM Ships International