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The M/V Freewinds is a cruise ship operated by the Church of Scientology. Its home port is Curaçao, and it frequents the Netherlands Antilles and the Caribbean.
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History and statistics
The vessel was built in Turku, Finland in 1968 as one of a series of four car ferries (the other three were Finnpartner, Finnhansa and Prins Hamlet). She was originally intended for use on the Bremerhaven, Germany - Harwich, England route with the Swedish company Lion Ferry but passenger demand proved insufficient.
The ship was sold before completion to Wallenius Lines, which renamed it as Bohème following the company policy of naming its ships after operas. It was redesigned as a cruise ship, with cabins added to the planned car decks, though the vessel never had bow or stern doors fitted. Bohème was chartered to Commodore Cruise Line and was used to run seven-night trips out of Miami.
It was purchased by Majestic Cruise Lines, a Church of Scientology corporation, in 1986 and subsequently was renamed the Freewinds in its home port of Curaçao. With a tonnage of 9780 gross, the ship has a passenger capacity of 360 persons and is registered in Panama.
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Scientology acquisition and ownership
In 1984, the Church of Scientology's parent body, the Church of Scientology International (CSI), decided to obtain a ship on which to deliver high-level Scientology courses. According to a statement by the Church,
CSI believed that an ocean-going vessel would be the most appropriate facility for ministering New OT VIII because this advanced level of religious service requires a completely safe, aesthetic and distraction-free environment and because L. Ron Hubbard, the religion's founder, had researched and ministered the first OT levels aboard a ship in the late 1960s. A ship therefore would have particular religious significance to Scientologists. However, Majestic remains in existence and is still actively billing visitors to the Freewinds.
The Freewinds is the fifth ship to have been owned by the Church of Scientology; the other four were the Royal Scotman (later Apollo), the Enchanter (later Diana), the Avon River (later Athena) and the Nekambi, all of which have apparently now been scrapped.
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Scientology usage
The Freewinds is the exclusive training center for OT VIII (Operating Thetan Level 8), the highest level of Scientology and the last of the published OT levels. The next levels OT 9 & OT 10 have not been released yet; the Church claims that L. Ron Hubbard (Scientology's founder) has written levels up to OT 15. Hubbard wrote that the higher OT levels will be released when existing "orgs" reach "Saint Hill Manor" size. Initiates who have reached the highest levels must receive their training on the Freewinds, as the Church does not allow it to take place in any other location.
Besides the OT VIII training, the Freewinds is used for delivering lower-level classes and auditing services. Freewinds is also used as a recreational vessel for Scientologists, including celebrities such as Tom Cruise. The ship hosts a "Freewinds Maiden Voyage" each July (sic) as an "OT Summit" for high-ranking Scientologists at which Scientology accomplishments and plans for the future are publicly celebrated.
In addition to its use as a religious retreat for Scientologists, the Freewinds hosts local functions in the ports it frequents, such as jazz concerts in Curaçao. It also caters to different international conferences and events.
The Church of Scientology promotes courses on the Freewinds through the eponymous Freewinds magazine. As of 2002, the packages offered by the Freewinds-based Flag Ship Service Organization, available only to International Association of Scientologists lifetime members, were as follows:
Includes one week's accommodation; not included in other courses
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Criticism
Former Scientologist and architect Lawrence Woodcraft stated in an affidavit in 2001 that the ship contains vast amounts of deadly crocidolite asbestos *. In the affidavit, he referred to it as a "blue cloud of death" that was released during a remodeling process. "Blue asbestos" is regarded as even more deadly than other types of asbestos, especially when it is dry and given the chance to flake. Removing asbestos can be a difficult and expensive task, and is an issue of major environmental concern for shipbreakers. In his affidavit, Woodcraft states that the asbestos was handled in such a way that it posed a danger to people and not according to the law. He also states that Church leaders, when told about the asbestos, responded that it was not dangerous because L. Ron Hubbard had never said it was.
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See also
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