Logos Hope arrives in Durban on first visit to SA

Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating book fair has arrived in Durban, the first port of call in her first visit to South Africa.

The famous OM Ships vessel with her crew of 400 Christian volunteers from 60 nations berthed in Durban Port yesterday afternoon. After torrential rains last night the the weather cleared to sunny skies today and at 2pm the crew welcomed some 150 special guests aboard at the 0fficial opening of the book fair which offers 5 000 titles at low prices. Today’s guests included ambassadors, consulate personnel, NGOs and media, and hardworking Durbanites who made the visit possible.

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Logos Hope’s arrival was not only exciting for Durban locals but also for international crew members, some of whom shared their feelings with Gateway News.

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Joel Fletcher, Jamaica: “Yesterday I was on the ship’s bridge as we were coming into South Africa, and as I saw Durban I felt like I could feel the heartbeat of the city.”

Brandon Kemp, The Bahamas: “At the official opening today, it was amazing to see over 30 nationalities in one room coming together with local Durbanites to commence this historic visit to South Africa!”

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David Houser, USA: “I’ve been waiting a year to come back to South Africa. It’s so great to be back, I love these people.”

The director of the Logos Hope, Seelan Govender, was able, for the first time, to introduce his two worlds to each other. The place where he grew up, and the place where for 16 years he has spent serving.

The Logos Hope, which will visit Durban (March 17 to April 3), Richards Bay(May 5 to May 17), East London (May 20 to May 30), Port Elizabeth (June 9 to June 20) and Cape Town (June 24 to July 11), is double the size of the Doulos, which was the last OM book fair ship to visit SA in 2005 and has since been decommissioned. Since 1970 more than 45 million people in more than 160 different countries around the world have visited OM Ships’ floating book fairs.

The goal of the ships’ ministry it to bring knowledge, help and hope to regions it visits through outreaches in partnership with local churches and ministries, as well as to host interactive events with an evangelistic and mission awareness flavour on the ship.

Logos Hope is docked in N-Shed Passenger Berth, Durban Port and will be open to the public as follows: Tue to Thur, Sat: 10am – 9:30pm; Sun, Mon, Fri: 3pm – 9:30pm, There is an entrance fee of R5 per person; children under 12 years old enter for free, but must be accompanied by an adult. (GPS Coordinates -29.870633, 31.032857).

More information about the ship’s visit, including the Durban event programme, can be found here.