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Floating book fair arrives in Hamilton

Created: Feb 13, 2026 07:59 AM (Updated: Feb 13, 2026 08:02 AM)

Explore the world: Monika Stoppa with daughter Julia Stoppa look at books on board theLogos Hope, tied up at #5 Dock, Hamilton (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

A floating book fair returned to Hamilton this week, welcoming the public to peruse its selection on board the Logos Hope.

The ship, originally calledGustav Vasa, was first constructed in Germany in 1973 as a passenger car ferry.

However, the vessel was purchased byGBA Ships eV — a German non-profit organisation — in 2004 and converted to a “book ship”, stocking thousands of books on science, faith, philosophy, sports, cooking and the arts alongside novels and publications for children.

Ricky Roy, a media relations officers with theLogos Hope, said the team were thrilled to return to the island for the first time in 16 years.

He said: “The last time we were here in 2010 the reception was great, the people were all so warm and welcoming and as soon as we got the chance we said let’s go back to Bermuda.”

Mr Roy noted that the mission of theLogos Hope was to share knowledge, hope and help in the communities that it visits.

Well stocked: the floating book fair on theLogos Hope(Photograph by Akil Simmons)

He said: “We have more than 5,000 different titles at our book fair and 800,000 books in our book hold, so there’s always a vast variety of books that we carry from port to port.

“These are books that are culturally relevant and not always easily accessible in the places we go.

“We also have different teams that go out every day to get involved in a lot of things in hospitals, prisons, schools and churches. It could be practical help or it could just be sharing our stories.”

Since 1970, more than 49 million people have passed through a book fair on one of the vessels run by GBA Ships.

Mr Roy said that the Logos Hope had just over 300 crew members on board representing 65 different countries living and working together.

While the weather has been cold this week, Mr Roy said that the cooler conditions were a pleasant change for many on board.

The floating book fair: theLogos Hope tied up at #5 Dock, Hamilton this week. It is expected to remain here until March 5 (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

“We were in the Caribbean for the last 1½ years and before that we were in Africa, so for the last two-plus years it has been warm,” he said.

“All the Europeans on board, especially the westerners, are enjoying it big time”

He said that the ship is expected to remain in port in Bermuda until March 4, welcoming the public on board for its floating book fair six days a week.

The Logos Hope is open to guests between 10am and 10pm Tuesday through Saturday and from 1pm to 10pm on Sundays, with the last admission at 9pm.