GMU Hoists the Flag as it Marks its Celebration Day

08:00
Raising of the Polish Merchant Navy flag.

The University’s Celebration Day got underway with the raising of the flag on the University’s main building at 08:00 hours sharp. In keeping with the University’s long standing tradition, the Polish flag was raised on a tilted mast to the sound of the National Anthem.

The ceremony began with the introduction of the University’s banner and the flag of the Polish Merchant Navy in the company of GMU Guard of Honour and the Polish Navy Orchestra.

Taking part in the short yet remarkably solemn ceremony were the University’s leaders, the distinguished Senate, as well as staff, students, doctoral candidates and graduates.

The oldest GMU tradition, the raising of the flag dates back 105 years to when young students, many of them participants in the Polish-Bolshevik war of 1919-1920, raised the flag on the building of the newly inaugurated Maritime School in Tczew, as the school did not yet have its own ship.

The morning part of GMU Celebration Day came to a close with the parade of the Guard of Honour to the sound of the Polish Navy Orchestra.

The raising of the flag ceremony was broadcast live on Facebook 

09:00
Ceremonial Holy Mass

It's a Gdynia Maritime University tradition on University celebration day to celebrate a solemn Mass for the intentions of the University's staff, students, doctoral candidates and graduates. This year, the Holy Mass was held on campus in the University's chapel in the Faculty of Marine Engineering. The liturgy was accompanied by the dedication of the chapel to St Peter the Apostle, the patron of fishermen and sailors. A new tabernacle and an image of St Peter were also blessed.

The Eucharistic celebration was held at 9:00 am and led by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Gdańsk, His Excellency Father Wiesław Szlachetka. Taking part in the liturgy was the Pastor of the People of the Sea and Chaplain of Gdynia Maritime University, Dr Edward Pracz, and the Head Priest of the Parish of the Holy Family in Gdynia, Father Canon Mariusz Dziarmaga.

An air of solemnity was provided for the occasion by the GMU Choir and Guard of Honour.

11:00
Ceremonial Open Sitting of the Senate

The ceremonial sitting of the Senate in the T. Meissner Auditorium began at 11:00 am with the traditional breaking of glasses. Taking part were the members of the Senate, representatives of the University Council, staff, students, graduates and guests. 

A speech for the occasion was given by HM The Rector of GMU, Professor Adam Weintrit, who began by welcoming the gathered guests. HM The Rector summarised the most important events of the past year, indicating that it had been a landmark year for the University, during which funding was awarded for the construction of the successor to the Dar Młodzieży.

The year 2025 was undoubtedly marked by numerous meetings, discussions, trips and talks with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Poland, the Sejm and the Senate, as well as experts involved in plans for the construction of the successor to the Dar Młodzieży. The media followed the topic closely and commented on it. Right from the beginning of the year, the project has enjoyed enormous support, which our University has received from many different communities, institutions and organisations, as well as from journalists. Throughout the entire process, we were also supported very actively by Members of Parliament (...).

We have an ambitious plan to hand the new ship over to students as early as 2028, and although the new vessel will be equipped with the latest technologies, future officers of the merchant fleet, students of the University, as well as secondary school pupils from maritime programmes, will still face traditional, physical seamanship training using muscle power, drawing on youthful agility and physical fitness, including learning to sail under canvas.

Following the Rector’s speech, Wojciech Gąsowski, Director of the Department of Maritime Education, read out a letter from the Minister of Infrastructure, Dr Arkadiusz Marchewka, in which he recalled that:

On 30 September adopted a resolution establishing a multi-year programme for the construction of ships for the maritime universities during the years 2025-2029, under which the successor to the legendary Dar Młodzieży, fourth in the line of sail training vessels, will be built.

Taking to the floor next was the Deputy Governor of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Emil Rojek, Hee emphasised the wide range of fields in which Gdynia Maritime University provides education and how dynamically it is developing its teaching activities, supplying experts for various areas of the maritime economy, including the offshore sector.

The Master of Ceremonies, Aleksander Gosk, then read out a congratulatory letter sent by the Minister of Education, Barbara Nowacka. Extending her best wishes to the Gdynia Maritime University academic community on the occasion of University Celebration Day, she assured:

I am certain that this exceptional moment inspires pride and joy in the full range of the University’s organisational, research, teaching and outreach achievements, lends itself to symbolic reflection and summing-up, and at the same time fosters closer bonds within the local community.

The ceremonial open sitting of the Senate also saw the presentation of many awards and distinctions.

15:00
Memorial Roll Call

University Celebration Day 2025 ended with a Remembrance Roll Call in front of the University's main building, during which the University remembered those who left an indelible mark on its history and thanks to whom we can be part of an academic community today and citizens of a free and independent country. With this solemn symbolic act, we remembered directors, lecturers, employees, students and graduates of the Tczew Maritime School and Gdynia Maritime University, who left for the eternal watch, having died in the field of glory, or at sea.

Media about the University’s Celebration Day