GMU Staff Visit Bremerhaven
On 17-21 August 2022, GMU's training sail the 'Dar Młodzieży', under the command of Captain Rafał Szymański and with second-year students of the Faculty of Navigation on board, took part in the annual Sail Bremerhaven 2022 rally.
During the visit to the port of Bremerhaven, the opening ceremony of the crew common took place following major renovations. The renovations were co-funded by the Bremerhaven-based Society of Friends of the 'Dar Młodzieży'.
The ceremony was attended by the Rector of the Maritime University of Gdynia, Professor Adam Weintrit, the Director of the Ship Management Office, Dr Bogumił Łączyński, and the Rector of Hochschule Bremerhaven, Professor Alexis Papathanassis. It was an excellent opportunity to discuss next year's 45th anniversary of cooperation between the two universities.
- From the very beginning, Professor Hans Rummel, chairperson of the Society of Friends of the "Dar Młodzieży", has been the friendly spirit behind this cooperation. - commented Professor Adam Weintrit, Rector of Gdynia Maritime University.
During the Society's annual meeting, the Rector and Professor Lączyński presented guests with commemorative medals and materials issued on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the raising of the flag on the "Dar Młodzieży". The widow of the first commander of the 'Dar Młodzieży', Edith Olechnowicz, also attended the meeting.
20th August 2022 was the 86th anniversary of the birth of Captain Tadeusz Olechnowicz, who died in December 2016 and was buried in the cemetery in Blexen near Bremerhaven. On this occasion, a delegation from the ship, including its Captain, together with the Rector, Dr Łączyński, and Professor Rummel, laid a wreath on Captain Olechnowicz's grave.
On 21st August 2022, Reverend Taraska, who the day before had consecrated the newly commissioned crew common room, celebrated a Mass at the stern of the 'Dar Młodzieży' in the intentions of the ship, the University, its students and staff.
On the return journey from Bremerhaven, GMU Rector Professor Adam Weintrit and Dr Bogumił Łączyński made a stop in Szczecin, where they paid they visited the grave of Professor Aleksander Walczak, who had been buried there two days earlier. The funeral ceremony of the long-standing Rector of the Maritime University, honorary doctor of Szczecin Maritime Academy in Szczecin and the Polish Naval Academy, was attended by the Deputy Rector for Education, Dr Sambor Guze, together with the Gdynia Maritime University Guard of Honour and University banner.
