Docked gently at the Mombasa Port’s Mbaraki wharf, the World’s largest floating library-Logos Hope on Wednesday officially opened her doors ready to dispense knowledge to members of the public who finally got a chance to marvel and sample contents of the globally celebrated book fair.

Aboard the vessel at Mbaraki wharf, a sprawling depth of timeless knowledge spreads across and wide, awaiting the boarding book lovers.  It's light, airy and a delight to visit.

Under well lit Logos Hope’s sealing, the wide array of genres wrapped in glossy and eye-catching book cover designs can whet any bonafide reader’s appetite and leave them spoilt for choice.

The choice is vast. It ranges from science, sports, hobbies, language, faith, cookery arts, medicine, leadership and more besides.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza described Logos Hope as a floating repository of knowledge, help, and hope and at the same time hailed its  theme "Knowledge, Help, and Hope," as a mirror to Kenya's aspirations on the global stage.

“The book fair on this vessel is a living testament to the universal language of literature. And uniquely for us, these floating shelves offer our community over 5,000 titles—ranging from science to arts, all at affordable prices. Beyond books, the ship's amphitheater will host enlightening talks aimed at enriching maritime careers,” Malonza said during the vessel's call at the Port.

While acknowledging the impact of the Ship’s arrival to tourism, she took the opportunity to welcome the 375 passengers and crew from over 70 countries “to the wonder that is Magical Kenya.”

“The increasing arrival of cruise ships like MV Logos Hope showcases Kenya's magnetic appeal. Our land boasts a diverse tableau of experiences—wildlife safaris, water sports, cultural richness, and tranquil beaches. These unique offerings have already led to return visits, like last year's encore from the MV World Odyssey, signaling our rising status as a prime tourist hub,” the CS said: “The global impact of the cruise industry is awe-inspiring. Before the pandemic, it generated over $154 billion and catered to nearly 30 million passengers. Today's cruise-goers are digitally savvy, and we're ready to meet them. The inauguration of Mombasa's cruise terminal is our bold step into this lucrative market.”

Malonza noted that the Ministry of Tourism is actively collaborating with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Transport, to maximize the benefits of our coastal assets.

Speaking on board the vessel, Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir reiterated his call to the national government to provide a visa-free offer to all visiting crew ships to give a chance to visitors and tourists to enjoy their stay at the coast of Kenya and encourage more such visits.

The governor also assured that most of the books on board Logos Hope will be bought and reserved in some schools to benefit students in the port County of Mombasa.

 According to Kenya Port Authority (KPA) Managing Director Captain Willam Ruto for the next 45 days, members of the public will be treated to the fun of touring the expansive vessel to explore other amenities like the international café, visitors deck, welcome area among others.

At the same time, he said the 370 crew members on board the vessel drawn from 70 nationalities, will have an opportunity to disembark and visit our city to sample the rich Swahili culture, and the cultural diversity of Kenya.

“They will visit some of the best sun and sand beaches in the world and interesting historical attractions like the Fort Jesus built in the 16th Century by the Portuguese. I am positive that the visitors will have a great time in Mombasa,” assured Captain Ruto.

He said Kenya is known world over as a giant in the tourism industry, and one of the best cruise tourist destinations and therefore, tourism facilities should be commensurate “with the world-class service standards we have always had.”

“This is why Kenya Ports Authority in its capacity expansion strategy developed a modern cruise terminal at the Port of Mombasa to support tourism. The state-of-the -art cruise terminal is built to modern standards complete with various amenities including duty free shops, restaurants, conference facilities, passenger baggage areas, and offices for key stakeholders in the industry.

The KPA boss noted the modern Cruise Terminal has significantly boosted Kenya’s capacity and competitiveness for cruise tourism in the continent.

“In the recent cruise tourism circuit season that ended in April this year, the Port of Mombasa received four vessel calls carrying over 4000 passengers.The famous Cruise Liner World Odyssey, also known as semester at sea operates the World’s floating campus, was among the cruise liners that docked at the Port of Mombasa,”  Ruto stated.