“There's always something special about a first visit!”

Since 1970, our ships have made over 50 port visits in Spain, but only one to the port city of Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city on the north coast of Africa. Logos II – the vessel that Logos Hope replaced – visited in 2006. Now, at the end of June, Logos Hope has docked at the port of Ceuta for the first time in her history.

Director Randy Grebe (USA) says, “I don't think any one of our 300 crew members have ever been here… [My wife and I] have been to many countries of the world, a number of those countries we've been back to again and again -- but there's always something special about a first visit! And now I add you to the list – now I have been in Ceuta!”

Addressing the fact that the city is home to a mixed ethnic and religious population due to its special location, Chief Mate Ionut Vlad (Romania) says, “Thank you for welcoming us in such a great place of cultural and historical heritage… Here we are -- our diverse team on board Logos Hope meeting the diverse community in Ceuta. On both sides with good intentions the outcome can only be a good one, so at the end of our visit we may look back and see the great things that we achieve together.”

Minister of Education and Culture, Carlos Rontomé, explains, “Ceuta is a different city. It is in the middle of two continents, the middle of two civilizations… Historically it’s been a passing place, but it is also a meeting place. Ceuta is a city in which coexistence is a main value. Ceuta is like this ship: many cultures, people from different backgrounds, living altogether in a small space.

“Thank you for coming. I believe the [description] of this ship doesn’t fully do it justice… It is way more than just the largest floating bookfair in the world. It’s clear that this project has a huge humanitarian and spiritual impact. The city of Ceuta is delighted and very grateful with your visit. We wish you the best during your time here.”

The minister officially opened Logos Hope's bookfair, which is now open to the people in Ceuta from Monday – Saturday from 10am to 1pm and 6pm to 10pm and Sunday from 6pm to 10pm until July 7, 2022. Entrance: 1 Euro.

written by Cristina Amato

Das nächste Schiff von GBA Ships: Doulos Hope

GBA Ships freut sich bekannt geben zu können, dass wir ein weiteres, kleineres Schiff erworben haben. Es wird zusätzlich zu unserem jetzigen Schiff eingesetzt werden, um Wissen, Hilfe und Hoffnung mit den Menschen in und um den Hafenstädten dieser Welt zu teilen.

Aufbauend auf dem Vermächtnis unseres vorherigen Schiffes Doulos (1977-2010) und ergänzend zum Namen unseres aktuellen Schiffes Logos Hope (seit 2009), soll dieses Schiff Doulos Hope heißen! Das Wort „Doulos“ ist griechisch und bedeutet „Diener“, das Schiff soll also ein „Diener der Hoffnung“ sein.

Der Geschäftsführer von GBA Ships, Seelan Govender, drückt seine Vision für die Zukunft der Organisation mit den folgenden Worten aus: „Engere und wirkungsvollere Partnerschaften bedeuten, dass wir länger in den Häfen bleiben und früher wieder zurückkehren müssen, aber auch, dass wir unsere Reichweite auf neue Gebiete ausdehnen. Wir wollen diese Arbeit so ausbauen, dass sie weltweit die größtmögliche Wirkung entfalten kann. Das bedeutet, dass wir unsere Vision erweitern und über Logos Hope hinausschauen müssen.“

Gespräche mit Partnern und Förderern der Arbeit unserer gemeinnützigen Organisation haben in den letzten Jahren zu einer beispiellosen Unterstützung für dieses neue Vorhaben geführt. Wir freuen uns darauf in den kommenden Jahren zu sehen, wie Menschen und Gemeinden in den besuchten Häfen geholfen werden kann.

Das im Jahr 1991 in Deutschland gebaute Schiff wurde offiziell am 25.05.2022 an GBA Ships übergeben. Es muss in gewissem Umfang umgebaut werden, um unseren Anforderungen besser gerecht zu werden, und wir planen bereits eine Renovierungsphase, um die notwendigen Änderungen vorzunehmen. Doulos Hope soll wenn möglich innerhalb von 12 bis 18 Monaten in Betrieb genommen werden.

Technische Daten:
Gewicht: 3.370 BRT
Länge: 85,5 m
Breite: 14 m
Durchschnittsgeschwindigkeit: 12,5 Knoten
Höchstgeschwindigkeit: 13,5 Knoten

Afloat again!

After two weeks on the blocks on the dry dock platform of the shipyard in Las Palmas, Logos Hope has been pushed back on to the synchro lift, lowered back into the water and re-floated.

Las Palmas, Canary Islands :: The ship's technical team pose for the annual dry dock picture before the ship is refloated.

Over these two weeks, the hull has been cleaned, grit-blasted and repainted to look as good as new again, and ready for another year at sea. The ship will remain at a berth in the yard while projects on the decks and inside the ship are completed over the remaining period of annual maintenance.

Among the many other projects taking place at the same time, are overhauling Generator 2, electrical work, maintenance on the lifeboats and davits (used to move the lifeboats into position for lowering), cleaning bilges and tanks cleaning, pipe work, seawater valve maintenance, servicing the cranes, and work on the rudders and propellors.

Project Supervisor Matt (Australia) reports, “The crew has worked hard, with great progress in all areas. We are thankful for the excellent morale on board. The cooler weather has helped here, along with the great food prepared by the catering team.”