The ship was temporarily stranded in Houston because it had no fuel. Now it’s headed to Puerto Rico.

PORT TAMPA BAY – The vessel Glory, which originally left Port Tampa Bay stocked with everything from school and personal hygiene supplies to food, is finally on its way to Puerto Rico.

On April 8, the Glory originally left from Port Logistics Refrigerated Service, a cold storage facility at Port Tampa Bay, with 1,300 boxes of shampoo, soap, toilet paper, school supplies, and food.

After leaving Tampa, the Glory stopped in Houston, TX, to pick up more supplies – including a van for use by relief teams in Puerto Rico. While in Houston, the Glory was unable to get enough fuel to make the trip to Puerto Rico and remained in Houston for several weeks, according to Port Tampa Bay officials.

The Vulcan Materials Co., a Port Tampa Bay tenant with an office in Houston, heard about the situation and offered to pay for 10,000 gallons of fuel to support the Glory‘s mission. Fuel supplier World Fuel Services also donated. The companies will split the $25,000 cost for fuel.

The Glory left Houston for Puerto Rico just before noon Friday (May 4).

The Glory plans to return to Port Tampa Bay at the end of May to pick up hundreds of mattresses and other supplies to take to Puerto Rico. Port Tampa Bay will help coordinate that effort. Port Tampa Bay waived all fees associated with the shipment of the supplies when the Glory departed Tampa.

Shawna and James Downs and their children live aboard the Glory, traveling around the world to help people in need. They run the faith-based Good Samaritan Shipping Ministries. They expect to arrive to Puerto Rico this week.

Photo shows James Downs, who lives aboard the Glory with his family, helping to fuel up the vessel before its journey to Puerto Rico. Courtesy of Port Tampa Bay.

Port Tampa Bay | Puerto Rico | Emergency Aid | Glory | Tampabay News

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