Gdynia Maritime University GMU

40 years ago, the white and red flag of Poland was raised on the Dar Młodzieży for the first time.

Dar Młodzieży, a three-masted B-95 type frigate, the training sail ship of Gdynia Maritime University, entered into service on 4th July 1982, when the Polish flag was raised on the ship in the Pomeranian Quay in Gdynia - until today the ship's permanent place of mooring.

The launch of the "white frigate" took place sometime earlier, on 12th November 1981, from the side of the C-1 Hull Assembly Workshop of the Gdansk Shipyard. The ship's godmother was Helena Jurkiewicz, who concluded her speech on the day with the following words:

… To the Captain and the crew of Dar Pomorza who are now transferring to the new ship, students of the Maritime Higher School, and all those who will sail on her in the future – I wish as warmly as only a wife bids farewell to her sailor husband – safe travels. May every voyage bring with it more success!

Work on building the ship began on 30th June 1981, on the day when the keel of the ship embossed with the shipbuilding stock symbol B-95/1 was laid in the shipyard.  The design of the ship was the work of a young ship designer at Gdansk Shipyard, sailor, and engineer,  Zygmunt Choreń. Dar Młodzieży is the first sailing ship built in a Polish shipyard, according to an original polish project, and was from conception designed as a sail training ship.

Once work on the project was completed, it was written that the sailing ship was built thanks to the efforts of Polish youth on behalf of Polish youth. And the ship still serves our youth today as Gdynia Maritime University's training sail ship.

The history of "Dar Młodzieży's" 40 years of service to Polish maritime education is a story connecting all oceans and continents. The sailing ship has taken part in the most prestigious regattas and rallies in the world, sailed the most hazardous waters, and welcomed on board royalty, heads of state, great seafarers, and thousands of sailing enthusiasts in the many ports it has visited.

One of the most popular sailing ships in the world, Dar Młodzieży has been invited everywhere - it celebrated the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of America, participated in the great rally that was the "Columbus Regatta 1992", and in 1997 carried the white and red flag during a rally in Osaka, Japan. It has graced rallies in the ports of Gdansk, Gdynia, and Szczecin. Been victorious and received honours at all major rallies and regattas of great sailing ships.

A programme of seamanship training is carried out on board the ship for students of Gdynia Maritime University, as well as students of maritime secondary schools, and apprentices from foreign centres of education training staff for fleet and seafarers.

Dar Młodzieży has played the role of a seagoing ambassador for Poland, completing many spectacular voyages across all oceans, and twice circumnavigating the world (sailing around Cape Horn in 1987/88 and on the "Independence Voyage" in 2018/2019).

Gdynia Maritime University began celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Dar Młodzieży began in May 2022, when it welcomed on board visitors for open days in Gdynia. The official celebrations took place during  University Celebration Day on 21 June 2022 and during the raising of the flag on 30th June 2022 in memory of the historic occasion 40 years ago.