| Frequently Asked Questions |
Below are some ‘frequently asked questions’ about GBA Ships and how the ships operate.Where does the funding come from?Half of the funding needed comes from the support of personnel on board given by friends, family and other supporters. Another quarter comes from the sale of books and non-book items (such as souvenirs) in the onboard family book fairs. The last quarter comes from gifts and donations given by individuals, trusts, foundations and community groups. GBA Ships is not a government or corporate funded enterprise. Some local corporate sponsorship in the ports of call helps to cover port and publicity expenses.What do you do with the money?GBA Ships is a non-profit venture. Income received through donations or sales on board the ships is used to purchase literature, fund port visit costs, and cover vessel expenses, personnel needs and administration.Who are all the people on board?Volunteers from over 40 countries serve on board the ships. They are mostly young people who have chosen to dedicate two years of their lives to be on board, learning to live and work together, and serving the communities in the ports visited. Additionally, the ships have a full complement of qualified crew, as required by international maritime regulations, and even these crewmembers serve in a voluntarily capacity.How can I join the ships?Applicants must be over 18 years of age, and in full agreement with the beliefs and values of GBA Ships. No-one on board is paid, and each individual needs to raise funds to cover the costs of their term of service before they can join. Regrettably, it is not possible for people from some countries to join as systems to process applications are not in place.How much will I get paid?All crew and staff are volunteers. No one – including the captain – is paid a salary. Each one on board has to raise financial support to cover the costs of travel to and from the ship as well as the costs of his or her time on board.Can I just come for a holiday cruise?The ships are classed as passenger vessels, but in reality there are very few ‘passengers’. The crew and staff on board work very hard despite serving as volunteers, usually for a two-year term of service. Life and work on board is an intensive but very rewarding experience.How do I send letters or parcels to someone I know on board?Since the ships usually stay for only two or three weeks in a port, the safest and most efficient way of getting post to the ship is to send it by air freight (not airmail) from the ships’ head office in Germany. This means that all letters and parcels for the ship should be sent to the following address:RECEIVER’S NAME SHIP’S NAME Alte Neckarelzer Str. 2 74821 Mosbach GERMANY The contents of every package or parcel should be clearly written on the outside. This information is required for customs papers and invoices for freights sent to the ship. Packages that do not have the information written on them will be opened for inspection. The value of a parcel should not be more than 50 Euros. Because of heavy import/customs duty in Germany (about 16% of the total value of the parcel), the head office will not pick up items with a value higher than 50 Euros. Small packages (less than 300g/10 oz) will be included in airfreights. Parcels and packages weighing more than 300g will be sent via seafreight. Approximately every 3-4 months we send a container to the ship which includes private parcels and packages. Be sure to send a package intended for a birthday or other special event several months in advance. |
| Current Ports |
| Future Ports of Call |
| Port History |
