Dr/Captain Władysław Rymarz

Rector of the Gdynia Maritime Higher School, 1981-1984

Władysław Rymarz was born on 20th May 1933 in Rohatyn, in what used to be the Stanisławski district. In 1939, his father was drafted into the army. He never returned home – years later, his name was found amongst those killed at Katyn.

Young Władysław and his mother were taken to Kazakhstan by the Soviet occupiers, where they remained until 1946. After returning to Poland, he completed school grades 6 and 7 in Bolesławiec and grades 8 and 9 in Lwówek, both in Sląśk. In 1950, he continued his education at the Jung School, in the Deck Department, before passing the entrance exam to the State Maritime School in Szczecin. Here he studied at the Faculty of Navigation. During the summer holidays, he worked for Polish Ocean Liners as a cabin boy on the m.s. Batory. In 1953, he graduated from the Marine Navigation Technical School in Szczecin. After graduation he worked for a further 9 years for Polish Ocean Lines, starting out as a junior seaman. He became a qualified Lieutenant in 1955 and a Master Mariner in 1962.

Scientific and Research Activity

In 1963, he was made captain of an instrument training vessel, the m.s. “Zenit” (until 1969) – he conducted classes and oversaw the development of a research and teaching centre as well as participating in prototype testing for various devices. His main area of interest was the use of modern technology in shipping, especially radar.

In 1969, Władysław Rymarz began further higher education at the Maritime Department of the Sopot College of Economics, graduating with a postgraduate degree in maritime law in 1973. He then went on to gain a doctorate in law at the Leningrad University after submitting a thesis entitled “International legal issues in the assurance of the safety of navigation through the use of radiolocation”.

During his employment as a contract reader at the Maritime Higher School, he held the post of Deputy Rector for practical experience for the term 1969-1973 and was also head of the Ship Operations Team. He lectured on maritime transport economics and the law of international waterways. From 1975 to 1981, he was the director of the Ship Operation Institute in the Faculty of Navigation. In 1978, he was employed as a contract professor.

Between 1978 and 1979, as commander of the ship the M.S. "Antoni Garnuszewski", he twice successfully reached the Polish "Henryk Arctowski" Antarctic Station as part of an expedition of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

In 1981, he became the dean of the Navigation Department. Having carried out the role from 1st October to 14th December of that year, in a state of war, the Minister of the Maritime Economy Office appointed him rector of the Maritime Higher School. He served in the post until 31st August 1984.

Activity Abroad

In 1982, at the request of the Secretary-General of the IMO and with the agreement of the minister, he took up work at the University of Malmö as a visiting professor.

The years 1985 to 1993, he spent in London as an employee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Here he cooperated with the Royal Institute of Navigation, the World Maritime University and the Nautical Institute. He gave presentations at conferences and symposia in the United States, the UK, France, Finland, Monaco, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, and conducted training in Sweden, Spain, Malta, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.

In 1997-1998, he was in Georgia to assess the country's progress in achieving compliance with the STCW 78/95 convention, as well as inspecting the maritime administration, the Maritime University in Batumi and the Ministry of Transport in Tbilisi.

As of the year 2000, he worked at the World Maritime University in Malmo, where he was involved in the EU Commission project EASTMET on maritime education and training in Central and Eastern European countries.

During 2000-2002, he was a member of a group of expert advisers to the 5th EU Framework Programme, and in 2005 he was actively involved in the 6th EU Framework Programme – "Maritime Transport Coordination Platform".

In 2003, he officially retired but continued to teach part-time at the maritime school in Gdynia.

Scientific Papers, Publications and Reviews

Władysław Rymarz was the author of a great number of scientific papers, publications and reviews, such as Safe Speed and Baltic Navigation – a Compendium of Regulations, Lights and Signs Provided for in the Law of International Waterways. He also published guides, academic scripts and textbooks on the law of international waterways, including International Provisions for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea and a Law of International Waterways Textbook.

For 10 years, he held the role of juror in the Maritime Court of Appeal in Gdynia and was also the reserve delegate to the minister for international trade and the maritime economy within the Maritime Council.

In 1969, he began working with the Polish Register of Shipping on the matter of safety in shipping. In 1981-1985, he acted as the deputy head, and in 1995-2001 the head of the training, qualifications and watchkeeping department.

He also sat on the examinations board for Polish Merchant Navy officers and was, for more than 20 years, a certified Russian interpreter in the County Court in Gdansk. He was a member of the Polish Geographic Society's Polar Club, the PAN Maritime Law Commission, a long-standing member of the International Maritime Lecturers Association, and the Association of Master Mariners.

Awards and Medals

He was the recipient of four Rectors Awards and three Minister of International Trade and Maritime Economy Awards and was honoured with the Silver Cross of Merit, the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the National Education Commission Medal, the Gold Cross of "Meritorious Maritime Personnel" and the 50th Anniversary of Maritime Councils in Poland.

He died on 24th March 2013 and was buried in the municipal cemetery in Kosakowo.