Following the port visit, with the ship open to the public in Las Palmas, Logos Hope has now begun the period of annual maintenance, which includes dry dock. Preparations have been in progress for many months to establish the work list of jobs, procure and send needed parts to the vessel and sign a contract with the Astican Dry Dock company.

Unlike many shipyards, where the vessel goes into the dry dock and then the water is pumped out, this shipyard has a synchro lift system, which lifts the vessel out of the water onto precisely positioned blocks, before being pulled onto the dry dock platform.

Over the coming weeks, the hull will be cleaned and repainted by the yard workers, while our technical teams on board complete many other jobs which cannot take place while the vessel is in operation. Inspections will then take place before certificates can be re-issued for another year of operation.

Teams of crewmembers not working on board have spread out across Gran Canaria, other islands of the Canaries, and beyond, to work with churches and other organisations. One team is serving at a refugee centre, while another is helping at a rehabilitation facility. Others will be involved in a wide range of activities, including visiting schools and the university, youth activities, sports programmes, prison visits and food distribution.