Logos Hope in Kiel |
|
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | 1973-1983: Gustav Vasa 1983-2003: Norröna 2003-2004: Norröna I 2004 onwards: Logos Hope |
| Operator: | 1973-1976: Öresundsbolaget 1976-1980: Saga Line 1980-1983: TT Saga Line 1983-2004: Smyril Line 2004 onwards: GBA Ships |
| Port of registry: |
1973-1983: Halmstad Sweden |
| Builder: | Nobiskrug, Rendsburg, Germany |
| Yard number: | 678 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 7302914 |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Tonnage: | 12,519 GT (gross tonnage) |
| Length: | 132.5 m (434 ft 9 in) |
| Beam: | 21.06 m (69 ft 1 in) |
| Draught: | 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) |
| Installed power: | 4 X SWD 6TM 410 RR 6 cylinder diesel engines |
| Propulsion: | 2 x controllable pitch propellors 1 x bow thruster |
| Capacity: | 492 passengers |
MV Logos Hope [2] is operated by the German charitable Christian organisation GBA Ships e.V. As the fourth ship operated by the organisation, she follows in the line of MV Logos, the wrecked hulk of which now sits on a rock shelf on the Chilean coast, MV Logos II which was retired in the fall of 2008 and which Logos Hope was designed to replace, and MV Doulos which was sold to a Singaporean interest in 2009.
Twice as big as any previous ship operated by the organisation, the ship was completely refitted over a period of 5 years. Logos Hope provides a better quality of life for crew as well as a wider range of activities for visitors and guests. The newly created Logos Hope Experience (which is situated on a deck that was installed into the original ferry’s car area) holds up to 800 visitors at any time, with capacity to host an additional 700 in the Hope Theatre and Logos Lounge. This publicly accessible deck offers visitors an introduction to the vessel and the organisation, a book fair featuring around 7,000 different titles, a visual presentation called the Journey of Life and the International Cafe. The introduction to the vessel omits the Christian proselytizing mission of the ship, though this mission is not concealed throughout the bookshop which features many Christian books, religious posters and music.
The all volunteer crew and staff of 400 people, represent around 50 different countries. Unlike the crew during her original use as a car ferry, crew and staff normally join the organisation to live on board for two years.
Contents |
Logos Hope generally visits ports for two weeks and is continually sailing from port to port year round. Since the launch into active service in February 2009, she has been in several regions: Northern Europe, the Caribbean, West Africa, the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and most recently south Asia. Future schedule information is available on the website. [3]
In 1973 the ship was commissioned as the car ferry Gustav Vasa running between Malmö (Sweden) and Travemünde (Germany), a route she ran for 10 years. In April 1983 she was sold to the Faroese ferry company Smyril Line and renamed Norröna. Sailing from Tórshavn, the Faroese capital, to Lerwick (Shetland Islands), Bergen (Norway), Hanstholm (Denmark) and Seyðisfjörður (Iceland) each summer, she was often chartered in the winter to cover other operators’ overhaul schedules. When Smyril Line delivered a new Norröna in 2003, the old vessel became Norröna I and was put up for sale. After much deliberation, inspection and prayer, the current owners purchased the vessel in March 2004 [citation needed].