Gdynia Maritime University GMU

The celebrations began at 8:00 am sharp with traditional raising of the white and red flag of the Polish Merchant Navy on the main University building on Morska Street. The red and white flag was ceremonially paraded under the escort of the GMU Guard of Honour to the sound of the Polish National Anthem, performed by the Merchant Navy Orchestra. 

Gdynia Maritime University's June Celebration Day recalls the events of more than 1920 years ago, when on 17 June 1920, the Minister for Military Affairs, General Józef Leśniewski, signed an order for the creation of a Maritime School in Tczew, the protoplast of Gdynia Maritime University.

The next point of the University's June Celebration Day was a solemn Mass celebrated for the intentions of the staff, students, doctoral candidates and graduates of the University at 8:30 am in the University's chapel.

Following the mass. HM The Rector of GMU, Professor Adam Weintrit, and GMU Honorary Doctor Professor Daniel Duda, Rector of the Higher Maritime School from 1972 to 1981, lay flowers at the bust of Captain Karol Olgierd Borchardt in connection with his 120th anniversary. Professor Daniel Duda then presented the following expositions for display in the GMU Hall of Tradition: 
Commemorative shell casing in memory of:

• Captain Zygmunt A. Deyczkowski
• Jerzy Oskar Stefanowski - graduate of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Captain Józef Miłobędzki

and miniature liberty bells – the symbol of the USA's War of Independence

OPEN CEREMONIAL SITTING OF THE SENATE

At 11:00 am, the celebration of the 105th anniversary of Maritime Education moved to the T. Meissner auditorium, the main hall in the central building of the University for the ceremonial open sitting of the GMU senate, attended by members of the Senate, representatives of the University Council, and guests. The Ceremony was accompanied by performances of the GMU Academic Choir.

During the ceremony, a speech on the occasion was given by the Rector of Gdynia Maritime University, Professor Adam Weintrit. The Rector began by recalling the events of 105 years past, which led to the establishment of the oldest University in the country:

We are here today to mark the 105th anniversary of the establishment of maritime education in our country, the creation of our institution. [...]. The Maritime School was founded in unfavourable times. Our students set off for the Polish-Bolshevick War, returning only in December 1920, hence the reason we have two University Celebration Days. In commemoration of the events, 105 years ago, when the Minister for Military Affairs, General Józef Leśniewski, signed an order for the creation of a Maritime School in Tczew, which led to the foundation of Gdynia Maritime University, the successor of the Maritime School in Tczew and in memory of the return of the students from wartime exile.

HM The Rector also spoke of the successes of the University's staff and students, among which he mentioned their participation and involvement in the organisation of international conferences such as the 21st 'International Conference on Smart Technologies – IEEE EUROCON 2025', organised by the Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science, Professor Ireneusz Czarnowski, but also the '16th International Conference on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation TransNav', organised by Gdynia Maritime University in cooperation with the Nautical Institute, which was attended by 250 participants.

HM The Rector also congratulated a student of the GMU Faculty of Navigation, Wiktoria Dumińska, who received a City of Gdynia Scholarship for outstanding academic achievements during the 2023/2024 school year. He also pointed out that the scholarship is not her only success as at the end of May she reached the final of the national competition 'Student Nobel 2025' in the Technical Sciences category.

During his speech, Rector Professor Adam Weintrit also mentioned the future directions for the University's development, referring in particular to plans connected with the construction of a successor to Dar Młodzieży:

[…] at this point, it is too early to indicate a date when the new ship will be launched, however it is likely to be after the end of my term of office as Rector [...]. The construction of a new tall ship is a historic decision. In the more than 100-year history of the University, this has happened only four times. […] Through sea training aboard a sailing ship, students are meant to develop respect for the sea and learn the value of teamwork. The best maritime universities in the world train their students in this way. 

HM The Rector also highlighted the University's plans for the University's development in connection with its internationalisation, indicating potential areas of cooperation, and naming countries such as Nigeria, Singapore, Angola, Flanders, Belgium, and the Philippines.            

Also taking to the floor during the open sitting of the GMU Senate was the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Dr Arkadiusz Marchewka, who in relation to the University's development, also addressed the plans for the construction of a replacement for Dar Młodzieży.

The events of 1920 paved the way for future successes of our maritime industry. [...] The University prepares outstanding specialists who are the face of our institution on the global stage. At the Ministry of Infrastructure, we understand that the investments in science and investments in education are the best investments. For this reason, we made the decision to support the construction of a successor to Dar Młodzieży for the University. Dear Rector, thank you for the past months of construction cooperation. The decision of the Prime Minister, which was announced during the Maritime Congress, is a vital step in order that we may continue the tradition of maritime education, with a new tall ship, which for future decades will be an ambassador for Poland. [...] Ahead of us is a series of procedures related to formalities, but the decision has already been made.

Following the speeches, the host of the ceremony, Aleksander Gosk, read a letter addressed to HM The Rector by the Minister for Education Barbara Nowacka, in which the Minister highlighted that:

GMU Celebration Day is an extremely important moment in the life of the academic community. I am convinced that particularly the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the establishment of the Maritime School in Tczew rightly inspires pride in the full range of achievements of such a distinguished institution.

In recalling some of the University's achievements, Minister Nowacka commented:

I recognise that not only are you, ladies and gentlemen, putting a great deal of effort into maintaining universal values and academic traditions, but also successfully developing your organisational, teaching, and research activities. [...] Your involvement in the preparation of competent, ambitious, and socially responsible personnel for the maritime industry is worthy of high acclaim.

In the latter part of the ceremony, Gdynia Maritime University staff were presented with medals, awards and distinctions awarded by the Senate of GMU and HM The Rector.

His Magnificence awarded the "Meritorious Service to Gdynia Maritime University," and "Meritorious Employee of Gdynia Maritime University" medals to those who contributed to the development of the Gdynia Maritime University and maritime education.

SAILS OF SCIENCE

The Rector also presented awards for outstanding scientific achievements: Sails of Science for academic lecturers with outstanding achievements and renown in academia or industry.

CERTIFICATES

The next item of the ceremony was the presentation by the Rector of certificates in recognition of the best scientific monograph and the highest scoring article published in 2024.(link is external)

Following the presentation of these awards, the GMU Academic Choir, conducted by Dr Karol Hilla, performed the Anthem of the Maritime School, composed by Michała Hłaski, a graduate of the Maritime School in Tczew.

CAPTAIN KONSTANTYN MATYJEWICZ-MACIEJEWICZ AWARD FOR BEST GMU ACADEMIC TEACHER.

The award for the Best Academic Teacher at GMU in 2024, as recommended by the Student Parliament, was presented by HM The Rector, Professor Adam Weintrit, to Dr Andrzej Piłat, Deputy Dean for Maritime and Student Affairs in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.

CONQUEROR OF SEAS AND OCEANS AWARD

The award for individuals who hold the highest degree maritime diploma and achieved significant success in connection with work at sea during the year 2024 was given to Captain Dariusz Jellonnek, Director of the Maritime Operations Department.

GDYNIA MARITIME UNIVERSITY STAFF AWARDS

Towards the end of the ceremony, Rector awards were also presented to both members of the University's academic teaching staff and the administration. 

HM The Rector also honoured members of staff for 40, 35, 30, and 25 years of service to the University.

BADGES OF HONOUR

Under Article 3 (2) of the Regulations of the Gdynia Maritime University Guard of Honour of 17 January 2019, HM The Rector, Professor Adam Weintrit, honoured outstanding members of the Guard of Honour with Badges of Honour. 

The ceremony came to a close with the retreat of the University banner. The Rector thanked all present for taking part in celebrations of the 105th anniversary of the establishment of Maritime Education in Poland.