The MV Logos Hope, home to the largest floating book fair in the world, has docked in Taiwan for the first time, bringing hundreds of thousands of books and hundreds of volunteers.
Operated by the German Christian charity GBA Ships — formerly Gute Bucher Fur Alle (Good Books for All) — the Logos Hope, moored in Keelung, is open to the public to visit until Saturday next week.
It will then sail to Greater Kaohsiung, where it will be docked from Sept. 13 to Sept. 24, before moving on to Anping Port in Greater Tainan, where it will stay from Sept. 26 to Sept. 29.
The books on offer cover more than 5,000 titles from the realms of science, sports, cuisine, art, philosophy, religion and language. There are also children’s books, dictionaries and maps.
Nathan Le Roux, a project coordinator with Logos Hope, said the ship’s volunteers and crew are looking forward to learning more about Taiwanese culture during their stay after missing the opportunity to do so last year.
The ship’s scheduled visit to Taiwan last year was canceled because of a mechanical problem.
During their stay, Logos Hope volunteers will also volunteer their time at Keelung Prison and with groups such as the Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation, Le Roux said.
The ship has about 400 volunteers from more than 50 countries, who serve as engineers, accountants and chefs.
Over the past 40 years, vessels operated by GBA Ships have visited more than 160 countries and welcomed more than 40 million visitors, the organization said.
The charity’s former vessel, the MV Doulos, visited Taiwan five times — the last time in 2007 — during her 32 years of service with the group before being retired in 2010. The Logos Hope entered the GBA Ships fleet in 2009.
The Logos Hope, which arrived in Keelung on Friday last week, is scheduled to leave Taiwan on Sept. 30.
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