M/V Logos Hope: World’s Largest Floating Book Fair Docks in Manila

The old M/V Doulos ship was the first floating bookstore that sails across the world.

I remember being quite sad when the MV Doulos (a famous floating bookstore that travels the world) had to say goodbye during its final sail in Manila some years back.  I’ve known MV Doulos (Doulos means servant) way back in high school when it first docked in Manila. To travel around the world and sell reasonably low priced books as well as become servants in humanitarian activities had been the main mission of the officers and crew of this floating bookstore. 

 I’ve had had lots of wonderful memories on board MV Doulos. The international crew were really friendly, the books I’ve had purchased were what you could classify as hard-to-find books (honestly, they were truly rare) and I’ve bought other stuff which I got for unbelievably low prices. Not to mention, they had served one of the best ice cream I had ever tasted in my whole life! If I’m not mistaken they went to Manila thrice and all those years I never missed dropping by the said ship. So you could just imagine my sadness when I heard they had to park MV Doulos and it had to say goodbye. I thought it was the end of all the happiness it has brought me and to other bookworms throughout the world. 

 

The Logos Hope send forth the message of knowledge across the globe.

Book lovers, rejoice! MV Doulos may have made its last sail. But that’s because it’s time to welcome MV Logos Hope. It’s carries the mission and vision of the old MV Doulos. With 408 officers and crew, it is the world’s largest floating book fair. The 12,519-gross-ton steel-hulled Logos Hope arrived in Manila last Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the Pier 15 of South Harbor to once more sell books and entertain visitors.

The Logos Hope is part of GBA (previously Good Books for All) ships. It is a non-profit organization based in Germany that operates ships that sail around the world to bring knowledge, help and hope.  The vessel was originally built in Germany in 1973 and was initially named Gustav Vasa then renamed Norrona until GBA ships bought it in 2004.  As of this time, it has visited 60 ports in 39 countries and welcomed 2.5 million people. 

 Logos Hope has around 500,000 books with over 5,000 different titles that covers a wide range of categories including science, philosophy, sports, hobbies, cooking, arts, medicine, fiction, language, economics and general reference.

“Logos Hope’s vision is to make a difference in the world. We’re not just a ship filled with books. We are here to bring knowledge, help and hope,” says Gian Walser, the ship’s managing director.

The Logos Hope would be in Manila until March 13. It would be open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10AM to 9:30PM. On Sundays it would be open from 1PM to 9:30PM. It is closed on Monday. Hurry, don’t miss this chance to visit them and buy great books for good low prices.  

xoxo,