Beirut - (AFP) - At a time when the economic crisis in which Lebanon is plunging prevented many from buying books, which affected the two most prominent activities in this sector, the sea carried to the Lebanese on Friday "the largest floating book fair" from which it can be purchased at reduced prices. .
This exhibition is on board the "Logos Hope" ship, which is run by the German "DBI Ships" organization, and will remain anchored in the port of Beirut for about two weeks.
The ship's visitors on Friday, including the Lebanese Minister of Culture, Muhammad Mortada, received a warm welcome from the ship's crew, who number about 400 volunteers from about 65 countries. Some of them wore their traditional national dress, and made sure to shake hands with everyone.
The volunteers spend about a year or more on board the ship, and their goal, according to the media statement, is "to share knowledge, help and hope with people all over the world."

The director of the ship and the Malaysian crew, Edward David, explained that the aim of the ship's arrival to Beirut from Cyprus and the opening of its floating exhibition, which will last until December 31, is to "share knowledge, hope and hope with the Lebanese." The ship leaves for Egypt in the first week of January, and it is commanded by the British James Perry.
The Lebanese Minister of Culture, Muhammad Mortada, praised the name of the ship, "Logos Hope", meaning the word and hope.
Mortada added, "The message that this ship sends is that battleships, aircraft carriers, and submarines are not what make civilization (...) because they carry (...) the tools of killing and death. As for the book, it only carries life," describing the ship as "a bridge." friendship between peoples.
The floating book fair includes about 5,000 books in Arabic and English. These publications are classified in an organized manner, in which they are specialized in the worlds of women and men. There are scientific and motivational books, a group of religious books, and the largest part of the exhibition is devoted to children's books.
These books are offered for sale at reduced prices, while visitors pay a symbolic fee of 20,000 Lebanese pounds, or less than half a dollar, to enter the ship.
Buying imported books is no longer within the reach of most Lebanese, due to the economic and living hardship their country is witnessing.
This was a reason to divert attention this year from holding the Francophone Book Fair in Beirut in one fixed location, as was the practice until 2018, and replacing it with a group of free, mobile cultural activities in several regions in which more than 100 multinational writers participated last October. Under the title of the International Francophone "Beirut Book Festival", bookselling was not an essential element in it.
A few days ago, the sixty-fourth session of the Beirut International Arab Book Fair was concluded, in which 124 publishing houses participated, while the number was 240 in 2019, before the crisis.
The director of the floating library, Mike Ngwaro, who has been working on the ship for six years, explained that this initiative is symbolic in encouraging people and an entire society to read and culture. "We have a large collection of various books for adults and children," the Zimbabwean told AFP.
"We try to get as many recent publications as possible," he added, noting that visitors to the ship are usually interested in literary books in general and children's books.

To date, the ship has had stops in 150 countries and territories and has hosted 49 million visitors on board.
David called on the Lebanese to visit the ship and interact with its crew, saying, "It is not only a ship and a book fair, but it is more than that, as it represents a vision that makes a difference and contributes to human development and advances knowledge through the displayed books."
During the ship's stay in Beirut, its management will send a team to visit a hospital, and will hold many initiatives on board, including "artistic and educational activities for young people that spread the meaning of friendship and carry values," according to what Port Liaison Director Nidine Sebastian told AFP.