Scientology ship: 20th Anniversary: Re-Christening Freewinds Motor Vessel

The Freewinds began service as a Church of Scientology religious retreat in 1988. The 440-foot motor vessel provided a distraction-free environment for parishioners to study and experience the highest level of spiritual counseling available in the Scientology religion.
After the ship's first 20 years of service to the Scientology religion, she underwent a full refit and restoration.

The refit was the largest in her history. Far more than a cosmetic upgrade, the ship was stripped from stem to stern, below the water line to the top of her stacks, covering all six decks. She emerged a brand-new, fully redesigned, technologically advanced, cutting-edge vessel, the ideal religious retreat for ministering religious services.

In June 2008, Mr. Miscavige was joined by the current and former Prime Ministers of the Netherlands Antilles in the Freewinds homeport of Curacao to rechristen the Freewinds on her 20th anniversary and commemorate her Maiden Voyage as a wholly refit ship.

The milestone Scientology project is featured in the October 2009 edition of Maritime Reporter and Engineering News—the complete refit and restoration of the Scientology Motor Vessel Freewinds. In writing the feature story, editor Gregory Trauthwein found the project so significant he dedicated his editorial to the ship as well, describing the passion surrounding this project and ship as immeasurable. There literally was not a single detail spared in the complete rejuvenation of M/V Freewinds, he wrote.

The Freewinds is home of the Church of Scientology Flag Ship Service Organization (FSSO), a religious retreat that delivers the most advanced level of spiritual counseling in the Scientology religion.

In addition to the impact of these renovations on the thousands of Scientologists who visit the ship each year, the sheer scope and attention to detail has set an entirely new standard for the cruise ship industry.

The level of quality is incredible, said Jon Rusten, COO and VP Development, Ocean Development Group, which oversaw the project. Nobody can afford this level of quality anymore.

Describing the project as A magnificent ship renovation via elbow grease, heart and soul, Mr. Trauthwein begins his article by stating: In todays I need it yesterday world, emphasis on quantity often overpowers quality, while the quick fix can supersede the correct one. Step back, take a deep breath and enjoy the fruits of a tremendous labor, a labor of love.

For the past 20 years the Freewinds has provided a distraction-free environment for ministration of the highest levels of Scientology religious counseling, far from the crossroads of the workaday world. The completion of these historic renovations extends its continued service in this capacity far into the future.

http://dwp.marinelink.com/pubs/nwm/MR/200910/

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• aruba
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