Gdynia Maritime University GMU

On 2 September 2024, an extramural sitting of the Commission for Climate and the Environment and the Commission for Foreign Affairs entitled. Taking part in the event dedicated to "The Safety and Protection of the Baltic Sea Waters" held at the Gdynia Danuta Baduszkowa Musical Theatre were HM The Rector, Professor Adam Weintrit, and the Rector of Gdańsk University, Dr Piotr Stepnowski. During the meeting, the Rectors of both Universities gave introductory speeches on the ecological state of the Baltic and plans for its development.

The Extramural Sitting of the Senate Commissions was opened by the Marshall of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska; the Chair of the Commission for Climate and the Environment, the Chair of the Commission for Foreign Affairs, Senator Grzegorz Schetyna, and Senator Stanisław Gawłowski; Proceedings were initiated by Senator Sławomir Rybicki. The sitting was preceded by a press conference attended by national, local and municipal authorities, during which participants were also welcomed by the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Dr Arkadiusz Marchewka, the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Mieczysław Struk, and the Mayor of Gdynia, Aleksandra Kosiorek. The press briefing was accompanied by the opening of an exhibition on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the reinstatement of the Polish Senate - the Higher Chamber of the Polish Parliament to which it is dedicated.

In opening the Sitting, Marshall of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Małgorzata Kidawa-Blońska, said:

It was the dreams of Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski's that led to the foundation of the Gdynia we admire, the development of the city, and that we can meet here today with the senators, local governments, scientific staff, experts and diplomats to discuss the future of the Baltic Sea.

During the event, experts gave talks on the security and use of the Baltic Sea, the foreign perspective, and the dangerous WWII remnants on the seabed.

HM The Rector of Gdynia Maritime University, Professor Adam Weintrit, gave a talk on the "Spatial Development Plan for Polish Marine Areas and Environmental Research carried out by Gdynia Maritime University" in which he underlined the importance of offshore wind farms and their development with the involvement of the University.

The wind turbines that will be installed are not those that we see when driving on the motorways and A-roads. These are the biggest turbines in Europe [...]. The installation, and even the transport of these parts [...] is an enormous challenge. The first step in the process has already been completed. Our University has already been involved in work with Orlen and PGE Baltica on eight out of ten wind farms. We are a powerful player in the industry.

In relation to marine environment management and research, HM The Rector of GMU also mentioned the idea of creating a Marine Environment Monitoring and Research Centre:

We [GMU] have received a proposition to establish somewhere on the Baltic coast a Marine Environment Monitoring and Research Centre, where we could control not only our wind farms but also other circumstances, for defence or meteorological research purposes.

The Rector of Gdansk University, Professor Piotr Stepnowski, also Gave a presentation entitled "Baltic Sea Pollution - its Causes, Scale of Risks, and Prospects for Improvement", in which he discussed the current state of the Baltic and noted that:

The Baltic Sea itself is surrounded by the tributaries of 250 rivers, including seven very large, and nine highly industrialised countries. 99.7% of Poland as a country lies in the basin of the Baltic Sea, so everything that originates in the country, both at-point sources and non-point sources, is eventually going to end up in the Baltic Sea.

Next to take the floor was the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the Republic of Poland, Juris Poikāns, who presented his country's perspective and activity in the Baltic Sea.

The President of the International Centre for Chemical Safety ICCSS, Ambassador Krzysztof Paturaj, presented a complex analysis of chemical weapons and munitions sunk in the Baltic Sea, focusing on defence through economic, environmental, social and health issues.

The final introductory talk was a presentation by the former Polish Ambassador in Latvia and Armenia, Jerzy Marek Nowakowski, dedicated to the Baltic in the context of European security.

After the talks, a joint meeting of the Committee on Climate and the Environment and Foreign Affairs took place during which the Committee adopted a common position "indicating the serious risks to the stability and security of the Baltic Sea region".

Following the Sitting, a letter of intention was signed by ship operators Gdynia Maritime University, Gdansk University, the Institute of Oceanology at the Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Sea Fishing Institute – National Research Institute that will work to strengthen cooperation between the partners.

Gdynia Maritime University, Gdansk University, the Institute of Oceanology at the Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Sea Fishing Institute own and operate six research vessels between them: Horyzont II, Imor and Dar Młodzieży (GMU), Oceanograf (GU), Oceania (IOPAS) and Baltica (SFI-NRI). The letter of intention signed by the partners foresees improved and more effective cooperation. The signed document also aims to enable the appointment of a 'Baltic Research Fleet' in the future, which will conduct comprehensive research on the Baltic Sea.

The letter of intention was signed by:

• The Rector of the University of Gdansk, Professor Piotr Stepnowski
• The Rector of Gdynia Maritime University, Professor Adam Weintrit
• The Director of the Institute of Oceanology at the Polish Academy of Sciences, Professor Jan Marcin Węsławski
• The Director of the Sea Fishing Institute – National Research Institute, Dr Piotr Margoński.

The visit of Senators to Gdynia, led by Marshall Małgorzata Kidaw-Błońska, ended with a visit to the Gdynia Maritime University Centre for the Offshore Industry, which opened in February 2024. The guests travelled to the Centre in Gdansk on board the University of Gdansk vessel, R/V Oceanograf.

They were welcomed by HM The Rector of GMU, Professor Adam Weintrit, who referred briefly to the history of the University and the important role it plays in the maritime industry:

Founded in 1920, Gdynia Maritime University has 104 years of history. First, there was the Maritime School, and then the State Maritime School. This became the Higher Maritime School, Gdynia Maritime Academy, and finally, today's Gdynia Maritime University, which is 1 of only 75 universities of its kind in the world and is currently seen as a leader in the maritime world.

Director of the GMU Centre for the Offshore Industry, Professor Krzysztof Czaplewski, spoke shortly about the Centre for the Offshore Industry and the research currently being carried out there:

This building, which was officially opened in February of this year, is proof of the dynamic development of our University and the conduction of research in areas which are immensely important for the modern maritime industry. [...] The most important research projects which are currently being carried out at the Centre for the Offshore Industry are those in preparation for the construction of offshore wind farms.

The Senators were given a tour of the facility by the GMU Maritime Institute's Deputy Director for Operations, Dr Radosław Opioła. Discussions during the visit also touched on the topic of a replacement for Dar Młodzieży – the University's sail training ship which for 40 years had been involved in the training of Merchant Navy crews, and which the Senators had a chance to visit.

On board, the ship, Marshall of the Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska and Stanisław Gawłowski –  Chair of the Climate and Environment Committee, presented HM The Rector of GMU, Professor Adam Weintrit, and the Rector of Gdansk University, Professor Piotr Stepnowski with Senate of the Republic of Poland medals.

A recording of the Sitting is available on the Polish Senate's YouTube channel below.