A former Faroes ferry, which Afloat will have more to report on, is to call at main Irish Ports next month, bringing a unique onboard opportunity to experience over the summer and beyond, writes Jehan Ashmore.
So what can visitors expect? Well, that will be the M.V. Logos Hope, which, on average, sees one million visitors welcomed on board, along with Doulos Hope of the GBA-operated ships, every year with floating book fairs, offering over 5,000 titles to satisfy readers across the oceans.
Logos Hope had completed a 14-day voyage across the Atlantic Ocean by its arrival at its first European port of 2026, Málaga, in southern Spain. As part of the refurbishment also in Spain, the visitor deck flooring was changed, new spaces were made for visitors to rest while going through the bookfair, and a new information desk system was installed to find books, among other things.
GBA operates its international tour to enable the spreading of knowledge and sell affordable books to communities around the world. The volunteer crew of 300 from 65 nations hosts onboard events, including an immersive tour, where visitors meet the crew, hear their journeys, and learn how Logos Hope connects port communities globally through knowledge, help, and hope. In addition, the non-profit organization also offers aid and community care to those in need by visiting hospitals, schools, orphanages, or prisons.
M.V. Logos Hope is to open the gangways to thousands, with its first Irish port of call at Dublin Port: North Wall (near East Link Bridge) between 21 July and 5 August, Cork City: Kennedy Quay (18-24 August), and Belfast, but not until the autumn with dates set for 1 to 21 October (which have yet to be confirmed).
Visitors can board, but booking (see fees below) is required in advance of taking the 60-minute tour of the vessel; for further details, consult www.om.org/ie/ireland-tours
Adult (16+) €5.00
Youth (5-15 yrs): €2.00
Infant (0-4 yrs) Free
Note, unfortunately, all tours are not suitable for wheelchair users.
In the interim period, between the Irish ports of call, the ship is touring other European nations, having started in Hamburg, Germany, and London, and is currently in Edinburgh at Leith Docks (until 21 July), where the historic former UK Royal yacht, HMY Britannia, now a museum ship, and former Northern Lighthouse Board navigation buoy tender NLV Pole Star, is a converted luxury boutique hotel, which also occupies the dock basin.
Following its call to the port of the Scottish capital, Logos Hope takes a short passage to Aberdeen, where, also on the same day, book lovers can board (21 July to 5 August).
Aptly, the vessel is to visit its former ferry trading area of the aforementioned Faroe Islands (also known as the Faroes) at Torshavn, the capital (27 August to 2 September), and also Klaksvik between 2 and 7 September. The 1973-built ferry Gustav Vasa was sold and renamed Norröna to serve Smyril Line for a decade on the long route linking primarily to Hirtshals, Jutland, in Denmark, to the North Atlantic Ocean archipelago, which is an autonomous territory or ‘rigsdel’ of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Another long passage heads south back to the UK, but on this occasion, the floating bookfair sets sail for the Welsh capital, where visitors in Cardiff can climb the gangway too between 10 and 29 September.
Last but not least is Liverpool, where the port of the northwest of England is also to welcome those later on Merseyside in the autumn between 22 October and 4 November, which is to conclude the season.
Since 1970, GBA Ships have managed five ships, beginning with the original Logos, followed by Doulos, Logos II (both callers to Dublin), and also, as mentioned, Logos Hope more than a decade ago.
Since then these ships have visited over 490 different ports in more than 150 countries and territories and welcomed over 52 million visitors on board.
Its latest vessel is the smaller Doulos Hope, which was acqui
