Meet Logos Hope, the floating library

People visit the library ship Logos Hope in the port of Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 31, 2022. [Xinhua]

Book lovers in Kenya will soon be treated to a one-of-a-kind floating book fair inside the world's largest ship library. MV Logos Hope, in her travels to thousands of ports across the world to promote literacy and education, will dock in Mombasa on August 21 for a two-week treat. In her two-week visit, the passenger ship-turned-floating library Logos Hope will welcome thousands of Kenyan book lovers up her gangway.

"The floating book fair offers over 5,000 titles, providing many visitors their first-ever opportunity to purchase quality literature," Good Books for All (GBA) Ships, a non-profit German charitable organisation that operates Logos Hope said.

But unique Logos Hope, a ship on endless expeditions across the world, might remain little-known to many people. Logos Hope built in 1973, is marking her 50th year this year. The ship first operated as a car ferry under the names Gustav Vasa and Norrona, before being purchased by GBA Ships in 2004. After extensive renovations, Logos Hope was formally recruited as a floating library operated by the organisation. It joined three other ships- Logos, Doulos and Logos II. Logos Hope's maiden voyage in her new 'carrier' was from Koge, Denmark to Gothenburg, Sweden, on February 19, 2009.

In her interesting role, Logos Hope has sailed over 140,000 nautical miles across 81 countries carrying more than 5,000 books. This year alone, according to the travel history by GBA ships, Logos Hope has showcased 14 successful book fairs across several countries, including Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, and Bahrain among others. To deliver these services across nations, Logos Hope is uniquely built to host its crew, who are not salaried, according to GBA ships.

The ship is currently in Salalah, Oman until August 3, when she is expected to make her way to Victoria, Seychelles from August 10, through to 17. She will then make her grand entry to Mombasa on August 21 through to October 4, when she will make her way to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Logos Hope is expected to dock in two more ports in Madagascar before the year ends. The ship is expected to begin her 2024 expeditions making her first stop-over in Maputo, Mozambique in January.

Logos Hope is expected to make her grand entry into the country years after her sister Duolos visited in 2005, also showcasing books. Duolos was sold and converted to a luxury hotel in Indonesia, another floating library ship called Duolos Hope entered service in May 2023 and is currently in Singapore.