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HE really is serving on the good ship. Anthony Webb, 23 from Chandler's Ford, is working aboard a ship which is literally floating the Christian message around the world.

MV Doulos - Greek for servant - is run by the Christian organisation, Operation Mobilisation.

The 94-year-old vessel is the world's biggest floating library. Its all-volunteer crew of 350 make educational literature such as school texts, business books, atlases and dictionaries available to communities in the developing world.

Over the last three decades the ship has called at more than a hundred countries.

In the short time that Anthony has been on board, the novice seafarer has experienced life in ports across the Asia-Pacific region.

A member of Velmore Church, Chandler's Ford, he is serving on Doulos as part of a two-year mission. And he regularly sends back despatches to the congregation.

Crew members play an active role in community development initiatives wherever the ship docks.

Orphanages Recently this included distributing hygiene packs to patients at a hospital in Papua New Guinea and other regular projects have involved building schools and renovating orphanages.

Every person on board receives no salary, something that does not trouble Anthony, the ship's videographer.

As an active member of his church, he is familiar with the values of volunteering to help others.

Anthony knows that the material he is recording will play a vital role in raising funds to keep Doulos going.

Life on board isn't always plain sailing, though.

Anthony says: "It's difficult to balance a fixed work schedule with all that's going on. With so many opportunities, there is always something for the ship's company to be involved with."

During the three-month stay in Papua New Guinea, a quarter of a million people visited the onboard book fair.

Anthony is committed to make the most of the two years he has signed up for.

He first heard about Doulos in 2004 when the vessel called at Southampton and a representative crew gave a presentation at Velmore Church.

Anthony then mulled over what it would mean to leave friends and family behind and sail the seas serving others.

When he joined the ship in 2007, he was certain that despite the sacrifices involved, this was something he wanted to do.

Living among the international crew, Anthony has quickly made friends and found the community to be a new family. He says: "The hospitality and warmth local people show us in each port is amazing."

So coming back to dry land might be quite an adjustment for Anthony who has certainly got a taste for adventure.

For more information on Doulos, log onto omships.org.

7:21am Sunday 4th May 2008

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