Basra, Iraq :: Book launch ceremony takes place to celebrate Logos Hope's visit.
In March 2023, Logos Hope made history by being the first of GBA Ships to ever dock in Iraq. The vessel stayed in Basra for two weeks, with an incredible total of over 90,000 visitors coming on board.
Inspired by the vessel’s visit, Dr. Dhurgham Al-Ajawdy, former deputy governor of Basra, published a children’s book called The Ship of Science and Knowledge. The book, which is available in both Arabic and English, is a beautiful representation of the ship’s visit to Iraq, as well as a journey through Iraqi history. It presents Iraq in a bright way, seeking to encourage and educate others. Though its intended audience is children, the book can be read and enjoyed by everyone.
To commemorate the publication of the book, a formal launch ceremony took place. It was held by the Department of Public Cultural Relations, hosted at the historical Palace of Culture Hall in Basra. The ceremony was attended by Logos Hope Captain, Ed Verbeek (Netherlands), and GBA Ships’ Project Manager, Ronnie Lappin, who flew in specifically for the ceremony.
Every honourable guest in attendance heard about the ship’s journey to Basra and the wonderful memories made among crewmembers and visitors. One guest on the podium, a literary scholar and writer, commented, “We notice that the existence of this big amount of different cultures and different kinds of books, it has a positive impact on the city of Basra.”
Furthermore, those from GBA Ships were able to learn about and experience the culture of Basra. Ronnie Lappin shared, “As it was my first visit to Iraq, I knew very little about the city.... But I found out that Basra is a very open culture and it accepts everyone who comes to it. Basra is a welcoming city for everyone, and I felt that today was the end of a great experience.”
It is evident that at the ceremony, far more took place than the simple launching of the book. A beautiful exchange of culture and knowledge, as well as that lasting impact of The Ship of Science and Knowledge, make this event one to be remembered forever.
The book launch in Basra, which was widely covered by the Iraqi press, was followed by a symposium given by Ronnie Lappin, Dr. Dhurgham Al-Ajwady, and Dr. Issam Khudhair Al-Kawaz at the Iraqi International Bookfair in Baghdad. After the informative event, this unique book was put on sale to the general public visiting the bookfair.