Gdynia Maritime University GMU

On 23rd October 2023, a ceremony took part at Gdynia Maritime University for the presentation of an honorary degree diploma to the family of Professor Bogumił Łączyński. Professor Łączyński was posthumously awarded the degree of Honorary Doctor of Science by National University “Odessa Maritime Academy” for his significant contribution to maritime education and training (MET). 

GMU Rector Professor Adam Weintrit presented the degree diploma to the late Professor's wife, Jolanta Łączyńska, and his son Tomasz Łączyński.

Also taking part in the ceremony were previous University rectors Professor Piotr Jędrzejowicz, Professor Józef Lisowski, Professor Piotr Przybyłowski, Professor Romuald Cwilewicz, and Professor Janusz Zarębski, as well as the current GMU authorities, faculty deans and administration staff.

The Rectors spoke of the years of their cooperation with Professor Bogumił Łączyński, highlighting his outstanding service to the University, the development of international cooperation, including his commitment to the establishment of the International Association of Maritime Universities IAMU, currently chaired by HM The Rector, Professor Adam Weintrit.

Bogumił Łączyński was born on 9th August 1952 in Gdansk. In 1971, he was admitted to the Faculty of Navigation of Gdynia Higher Maritime School, before continuing his studies at the Higher School of Engineering in Odessa. In 1983, he defended his doctoral thesis at the Higher School of Engineering in Leningrad and was awarded a technical science PhD in maritime transport. He became a qualified master mariner in 1990.

In 1977, he began work at the Institute of Ship Operations within the Faculty of Navigation as a Trainee Research-and-Teaching Assistant. In 1998, he was made associate professor at the Higher Maritime School. He served as Director of the Institute and Head of the Department of Ship Operations during the years 1998-2006 and also held the role of Deputy Director of Maritime Affairs at the Gdynia Maritime Academy in 2001-2002. He was a member of the Senate of the Higher Maritime School for four terms in 1999-2012,  and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Navigation during 2012-2016. He also designed and initiated the construction of laboratories and cargo and ship management simulators used in the Department of Ship Operations. He was the founder and head of the "Modern Ship Management" postgraduate degree programme conducted at the Faculty of Navigation.

Besides teaching at the Maritime Academy, Bogumił Łączyński was the Deputy Director of the Shipping Safety and Environmental Protection Foundation Iława manewrowania [Iława Ship Handling] (1990-2006), and since 2020, the Deputy Chair of the Foundation's Council.  Since 1991, he held the role of director of Academy Maritime Services Ltd., a company which recruits Polish seafarers and students for work on the ships of foreign operators.

Professor Bogumił Łączyński was the author of more than 200 publications, mainly concerning maritime transport, safety at sea, freight forwarding, ship management, and more.

In 2012-2016, he served as a juror in the Gdynia Maritime Chamber. Bogumił Łączyński was a founding member of  STAMI (Stena Association of Maritime Universities), APMAR - the Association of Polish Manning Agents and Recruiters, and the Polish Chamber of Maritime Commerce (1994). He was also a member of the Editorial Committee of the IAMU Academic Affairs Committee, and the TransNav Scientific and Organisational Committee during the years 2005-2015.

Professor Łączyński was a member of the Maritime Department of the Polish Society of Commodity Science (PTT), the Polish Ship Managers' Association, the IMSF (International Marine Simulator Forum), the SIGGTO (Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators), the Association of Maritime School Graduates and also belonged to the Polish Registry of Shipping's Centre for International Maritime Organization Affairs from 1999 until 2002.  In 2022, he was elected Vice-President of the Polish Shipowners' Association. From 2011, he was a member of the Science Committee at Analele Universitatii Maritime Di Constanta.  He was one of the founding members of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) and was involved in the work of many of its bodies. From 2000 to 2020, he performed the role of GMU's IAMU Contact Person.

In 2002, he received the Polish Chamber of Maritime Commerce's "Amber Egg" award for the exceptional way in which he connected the system of maritime education and the needs of the maritime industry.  Dr Łączyński was awarded the bronze, silver, and gold awards for Meritorious Maritime Personnel (1984, 1989, 1994), three Second-Class Rector's awards (1998, 1999, 2001), a National Education Committee Medal (1999), a Gold Cross of Merit (2002), and a Gold Medal for Long Service (2012).

An educator of many generations of seafarers, officers and ship managers. Always deeply involved and committed to his work.