Gdynia Maritime University GMU

On 20th August, in the Senate Meeting Hall at Gdynia Maritime University, a ceremony was held for the presentation of a commemoratory porthole from the first voyage of Dar Młodzieży to Professor/Captain Daniel Duda. This unique memento was symbolically gifted to Professor Duda, the Rector of the Higher Maritime School during the years 1972-1981, by HM The Rector of GMU, Professor Adam Weintrit on the 50th anniversary of the first Operation Sail [Operacja Żagiel] to be held in Poland. 

Still today, operation sail has a symbolic importance in the history of sailing. Dar Pomorza, the predecessor of the University's Dar Młodzieży, took part as the first tall ship from a socialist state to take part in an international regatta. The frigate, which was commanded by Captain Kazimierz Jurkiewicz, proved to be second to none, beating the East German Gorch Fock to first place.

The circumstances of the ship's participation in the event and the role of Professor Daniel Duda, whose decisions led to the Dar Pomorza taking part in the race were mentioned by Professor Adam Weintrit: We'd normally refer to it using an impersonal form 'the race was won', but there indeed a person who inspired it all and that person was Professor Daniel Duda. He made the tough decision to send the ship out beyond the Iron Curtain and even win the race, and then to invite the entire sailing world here, which, at that time, was highly significant, if not groundbreaking. HM Rector Professor also drew the attention of those present at the ceremony to Dar Młodzieży, which has continued the tradition of its predecessor for more than 40 years, pointing out the need to build its successor to ensure that the training of future merchant fleet officers can continue to take place on board a sailing ship, which is the best way to learn the sailing profession.    

The commemorative porthole was presented to Professor Daniel Duda in recognition of his contribution to the development of the maritime industry and maritime education, including the Higher Maritime School. Professor Duda was instrumental in the project to build the Antoni Garnuszewksi  – a training cargo ship operated by Polish Ocean Lines and the sail training ship Dar Młodzieży. During his time as Rector, a number of development projects were carried out including the construction of a campus accommodating more than 1000 students and young staff, a sports hall, and a planetarium. In addition, under his leadership, the Maritime School introduced part-time and supplementary study programmes for its graduates and gained the right to award master's degrees. In 2021, Professor Daniel Duda was honoured by the University with the honorary title of Doctor honoris causa.

During the ceremony, Professor Duda also presented the Rector with souvenirs from the regatta which will be added to the collections of the University's Hall of Tradition. He also informed those present that the porthole that he was presented will be passed on to the Dar Pomorza on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of its voyage around the world.

The ceremony was overseen by Aleksander Gosk, GMU's Master of Ceremonies and the Deputy Director of the Polish Naval Museum in Gdynia.

The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Rector for Education, Dr Sambor Guze; the Deputy Rector for Science Dr Dariusz Barbucha, Professor Tomasz Augustyniak, the Deputy Major of the City of Gdynia; Szymon Kulas, Director of the Polish Maritime Museum; the Director of the Ship Management and Seagoing Service Department, Dariusz Jellonnek; the Chair of the Association of Master Mariners and the Chair of the Executive Board of the Main Maritime and River League, Andrzej Królikowski; as well as participants in the memorable regatta - Professor Henryk Śniegocki, and the commander of the Dar Młodzieży, Captain Mirosław Peszkowski.