Captain Antoni Zieliński

Director of the Maritime School in Southampton, 1940-1943

The Maritime School in Tczew and Seafarer Training on Lwów

Born on 26 November 1904 in Sosnowiec. Graduated from the Stanislaw Staszic Boys' Public Secondary School

In 1920, at only 16, he joined the army. However, as he was a minor, he was not sent to the front line but stayed behind to serve in local auxiliary formations.

A year later he became a student of the Maritime School in Tczew, despite the opposition of his parents, whose permission was required for him to sit the entrance exam.

He completed seamanship training onboard Lwów initially during training outings on the Baltic, and later voyages to the ports of Western Europe, and finally on the trip to Brazil.

He graduated from the Maritime School in Tczew with a distinction in 1924.

Military Service

Andrzej Zieliński completed his military service between February and October 1925 (during which time he took a navy reserve cadet course), and also from August to November at the Navy Officers School in Toruń.

From December 1925 to July 1926, Antoni Zieliński undertook seagoing service as a deck assistant on the s.s “Eubee” of the Compagnie de Navigation des Chargeurs Réunis on route between Western Europe and North America.

In December 1926, he joined the crew of the s.s. “Kraków”, operated by Żegluga Polska, in the rank of 3rd, and later 2nd officer. He was promoted to 1st officer two years later. He also sailed on ships of the Polish-British Ship Society and Gdynia-America Ocean Lines (GAL).

Master Mariner

In December 1929, as one of the first persons to graduate from the Maritime School in Tczew, he received the qualification of master mariner.

In 1933, he began work as a maritime pilot in Gdynia, Harbour Master's Office.

The first ship under his command was the s.s Kraków in 1935. In 1936, the ship sailed to Havana, where the red and white flag made an appearance for the first time.

Antoni Zieliński also commanded the s.s. Lechistan, the s.s. Pułaski and the s.s Śląsk. It was during his time as captain of Ślask that WWII broke out. At that time, the s.s Śląsk was in Swedish waters, near Västervik in Sweden. The ship was redirected to Bergen, from where it sailed in a British convoy to Scotland, arriving in Methil harbour on 19 November 1939.

Antoni Zieliński also commanded the Śląsk during sailings to French and Portuguese ports until 1940, when the Maritime Industry and Trade Department transferred him to the Maritime School in Southampton (based at the University College's Department of Navigation). Here he held the roles of liaison officer, cadet guardian and school director. He taught subjects such as ship knowledge with shipping lane regulations, shipbuilding and stability to Polish and English cadets, and also lectured on courses for skippers and ship engine drivers. Besides this, he was also involved in the preparation of legal, technical and administration materials for specialised publications.

Maritime School Director

In 1943, the school was relocated to Sloane Square in London, where Antoni Zieleński continued in the role of director.

Following the complete cessation of Polish maritime education in 1946, Antoni Zieleński returned to his homeland onboard the Baltic, a ship he then commanded until February 1947. Back in Poland, he captained a passenger ship, the s.s Jagiello, as well as a cargo ship, the s.s Kiliński.

From March 1948 until his death in 1951, Antoni Zieleński served as the head of the Department of Shipping of the Gdańsk Maritime Council, based in Gdynia.

He also played a part in the work of the Maritime Education Program and Structural Committee and was a member of the National Committee for Polish Merchant Navy Officer Qualification affairs.

He taught on small ship captain courses and courses on shipping administration and was also a juror at the Maritime Chamber in Gdynia, as well as a delegate of the Minister of Shipping in the Maritime Court of Appeal in Gdynia.

He was one of the members of a team of government delegates that attended a conference on changes to the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea in 1929.

In 1950, his book entitled ‘Ship Knowledge’ [Wiedza okrętowa] - Ropes, blocks, and decks [Liny, bloki, talie] - Container ships, and in 1951 his book, ‘Ship Knowledge’ - Small ships.

Captain Zielński was decorated with the Silver Cross of Merit (1937), as well as several British medals: the 1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star, War Medal and Defence Medal.

He died on 5 April 1951 and was buried at the Witomino Cemetery in Gdynia.