A unique floating book shop will sail into Hamilton dock three days before Christmas carrying tens of thousands of books.

The onboard bookstore is something akin to a sizeable Barnes & Noble retail outlet offering 6,000 book titles covering a variety of categories from science, sports and the arts to medicine, hobbies and Christian living.

And there is even a cafe where visitors to the ship and its bookstore can relax.

On a never-ending voyage around the globe the ship carries a sizeable community of Christian volunteers who run the vessel and bookshop and offer help to the local communities they visit.

When it docks in Bermuda the ship will play host to the disadvantaged children of prisoners, providing them with a Christmas party and presents donated to Project Angel Tree by Islanders.

As they go out into the community the shipmates onboard the Christian Ministry vessel also intend to offer support for the Teen Haven organisation which helps young pregnant mothers.

The bookstore provides a percentage of the income for the ship, although it is a small portion next to the donations and pledges which the ship?s travelling community secure to keep things running.

The ship has a multitude of objectives as it voyages around the world, encapsulated by its mission statement ?Bringing Knowledge, Help and Hope?.

The knowledge comes from the books it sells, and the help and hope from the work of its travelling, multi-national Christian volunteers who go out into the communities they visit.

The non-profit charity is making a 14-day stop in Hamilton as part of a tour of the Caribbean region during 2006.

It has most recently been visiting ports in West Africa including Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Cameroon.

Andrew Boone, who travels ahead of the ship to make arrangements for its arrival, said: ?In Sierra Leone we helped with the building of homes and schools. There are people onboard with mechanical skills.

?Everyone onboard has a faith in God and everyone makes a commitment to the ship for at least two years. The book shop has books of all kinds and it?s a bit like Barnes & Noble.

?There are books of every kind. We have a relationship with some book publishers who provide us with books at cost price, or even donate them.?

Making books available at realistic prices gives many of those living in poorer countries a rare opportunity to buy books and enhance their knowledge.

Mr. Boone said: ?When we were in Jamaica we had more than 100,000 people visit the ship in a little less than four weeks and some of the largest crowds have been in West Africa.?

Visitors will also be able to speak to the 200-odd volunteers onboard the ship about their experiences and the Christian faith. is due to dock in Hamilton on December 22.