Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On Monday 16th November we had a meeting with the surveyors. They elaborated on the list of areas they considered needed to be ‘promptly and thoroughly’ repaired. This included significant areas where steelwork needed to be renewed and other jobs, some specific and others ship wide.

From experience we know that the moment you start replacing steel in a specific area it is not long before it is necessary that surrounding areas also need to be renewed.  The initial quote from the shipyard for the work we know needs to be done is in the vicinity of € 8.2 million and an estimated further five month delay and lay up/dry dock. Harald Smit, our technical advisor for Doulos estimates that a more realistic estimate of cost when all has been considered is over €10 million.

The OM Ships executive leadership team and GBA Board has expressed that we are not willing to invest this kind of resource into a ship for which there is really a limited ministry future.

The result of this is that we will not be able to sail Doulos for ministry beyond 31st December 2009.

This has severe implications for all on board as well as many who are on the brink of joining us. We are working through the issues.

This is not what any of us wanted. We did ask the Lord to make His will clear and that He has done. A passage I read soon after receiving the news has been a source of strength and comfort to me:

Isaiah 46:9 - 11

9 Remember the former things, those of long ago;
       I am God, and there is no other;
       I am God, and there is none like me.

 10 I make known the end from the beginning,
       from ancient times, what is still to come.
       I say: My purpose will stand,
       and I will do all that I please.

 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey;
       from a far-off land, a man to fulfil my purpose.
       What I have said, that will I bring about;
       what I have planned, that will I do.

Thank you for standing with the Doulos ministry through the years. Please continue to pray as we plan and implement contingency plans and seek the Lord for the future.

Yours sincerely

Peter Nicoll
CEO
OM Ships International