Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating bookfair, docked in Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP).
The opening of the bookfair was hosted by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and APM terminals and the local agent Al moayyed Wilhelmsen , in collaboration with the German Embassy.
It is managed by GBA Ships e.V., a nonprofit organization based in Germany, which operates ships that travel the world to share knowledge, help and hope.
“APM Terminals Bahrain welcomes the M. V. LOGOS HOPE at Khalifa Bin Salman Port and we are happy to provide all the necessary arrangements to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for both the crew and the visitors,” APM Terminals Bahrain CFO and interim CEO Farooq Zuberi said.
The vessel has visited 1,500 ports, in over 150 countries. It stays in each country for about two weeks. The ship’s members, who come from 70 different nationalities, play an important humanitarian role as they visit orphanages and hospitals to help the needy by providing them with treatment services and sharing with them the culture of their countries.
Since all its members are volunteers, the largest floating bookfair proceeds go to charities.
“It’s an interesting experiment, this floating bookshop with 290 volunteers on board who are bringing intellectual property to the people and carrying it around the world. I’m very glad that Bahrain once again accepted to host it,” German Ambassador to Bahrain, Clemens Hach said.
The vessel’s previous visit in Manama was in 2013, when around 51,000 visitors were welcomed.
“Bahrain is obviously a country with a strong intellectual scene. I think it’s something that’s very well fits the nature of Bahrain, the country that’s well known with its connection to the sea,” the ambassador said.
Maysoon Mohammed Sabkar, Director of Communications and Marketing at MTT said that the Ministry works to ensure a suitable infrastructure and welcoming environment to attract large cruise ships and highlight Bahrain’s role in the maritime industry.
She pointed out that hosting Logos Hope in Bahrain is an opportunity to introduce the public and the future generation of mariners to the ports sector, enabling them to go onboard a ship, meet members of crew first-hand and learn more about the maritime sector.
Visitors to Logos Hope are offered an expanded selection of over 5,000 different titles of books onboard. Since 1970, the ship has welcomed more than 49 million visitors. For each port visit, efforts are made to ensure that material is available in the local language.
Source: Bahrain News Agency