The floating bookstorearrived in Bermuda yesterday amid protests from local bookstores who depend on the Christmas season for their annual boost in sales.

The ship, which will be in Bermuda for the next 14 days, is set to open for business this morning, carrying more than half a million books and boasting some 4,000 titles on subjects including science, sports, hobbies, cookery, the arts, economics and medicine, as well as books on faith and religion.

It?s the fact that these books are on offer at a fraction of their retail value that has local bookstores up in arms.

The Chamber of Commerce has called for a ban on sales until after Christmas and queried whether or not work permits were issued to the staff of

Acting Chief Immigration Officer, M. Rozy Azhar yesterday said permission was requested by Cornerstone Bible Fellowship, who are acting as the sponsor for the, for the employees of the ship to sell books and permission was granted.

The ship was purchased in 1989 by Educational Book Exhibits Ltd (EBE), a private, non-profit, charitable organisation registered in the United Kingdom and is operated on behalf of EBE by Gute B?cher f?r Alle (Good Books for All), a second private, non-profit, charitable organisation registered in Germany. visits port cities throughout the world, supplying books, encouraging inter-cultural understanding, training young people for more effective life and service, promoting greater global awareness, providing practical aid and sharing a message of hope in God wherever there is opportunity.

Since first setting sail, more than 9 million visitors have been welcomed on board for tours, programmes and visits to the floating bookshop and with stops in over 280 ports, this unique ship has visited 76 countries.