Floating library in Walvis Bay
MV Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating book fair, is expected to arrive in the Port of Walvis Bay late on Friday. She will stay for ten days, departing again on 27 July to continue her journey to West Africa.
In 2002, her sister ship, the MV Doulos, also visited Namibia, staying for six days and welcoming nearly 12,000 visitors. Now Logos Hope – newer, larger and carrying an international crew of 400 volunteers, offers a bigger space for visitors and more comfortable browsing in the air-conditioned book fair and International Café.When the Logos Hope arrives in the Walvis Bay harbour, her crew will be out on the deck waving their flags and celebrating the arrival in a new port.
The official welcome by the Vice President, HE Nickey Iyambo takes place on Saturday morning after which the floating book store is open to the public until 27 July. For the duration of her visit, the Logos Hope will remained berthed at the quay.
Being her first visit to Namibia, crew members are looking forward to exploring the local culture and making new friends. “I am very excited for the first ever visit. Walvis Bay is well known in the maritime world and has a rich nautical history,” said the American Captain Tom Dyer. “We welcome many on board to visit the book fair and take part in activities. Also we would love to go onshore to interact with the communities of Walvis Bay.”
Logos Hope’s on board book fair offers an expanded selection of over 5000 different titles at affordable prices. They cover a range of subjects including science, sports, hobbies, cookery, arts, medicine, languages and philosophy. “With children’s titles, academic texts, dictionaries, atlases and more, the book fair is something the whole family can enjoy” said the local coordinator, Mareike Fritschen in a statement released prior to the ship’s arrival.
During her stay, the rest of the Visitor Experience Deck remains open to the public to explore. “From the Welcome Area, which introduces the new vessel through a short movie and interactive displays, to the International Café, which has ice cream, drinks and snacks for sale, there is sure to be something for everyone.”
MV Logos Hope is operated by GBA Ships e.V., an international, charity organization registered in Germany. Since 1970, the organization has welcomed over 45 million visitors in more than 160 countries.
