Maritime Academy of Gdynia

Routes of two training ships: "Dar Mlodziezy" and "Horyzont II"

Sometimes it seems to me I should just abandon the idea of making any plans at all, as especially recently none of them came to life. Yes, again my planned post needs to be postponed. Instead I'm going to write, to my surprise, about a place I never thought I would.

Bell in the entrance hall to Maritime Academy

As my work took me to Gdynia. I was told I can write about Maritime Academy of Gdynia, so I was like " oh okay". But inside I was thinking "what could be cool about a school". Nevertheless I begun research about the history of the school. As it turns out, the history isn't long, but still quite colorful.

Outside of Maritime Academy building, Gdynia

17 days after first World War finished marshal Pilsudski ordered the formation of Polish Navy. As a result not only the Navy was formed, but also 1,5 years later maritime college was opened. It was first collage of that kind in newly formed Poland. The school was based in Tczew, a town located about hour drive from Gdynia.

Entrance Hall, Maritime Academy of Gdynia

Since this was the first maritime school in Poland there was not terminology developed to describe processes that take place on the ships, or elements of ships. Coming up with all the vocabulary was up to newly recruited academic faculty. Then and there a publishing house was established, and first books in polish of naval themes were published. Fist book was published in June 1927 by the title of "Budowa okretu" ("Ship Construction").

Maritime Academy, 1930, photo: http://www.am.gdynia.pl/

The school was moved to Gdynia in 1930 and by that time it was promoted to a higher education institution. The maritime college was housed in building that was specially made for that purpose. Unfortunately happy days didn't last long, as the II WW began. The school was made into an emergency hospital and most of the faculty and students volunteered to join the army in war.

Souvenirs at Tradition Hall in Maritime Academy.... and me :)

Surprisingly the National maritime college was the only school that operated during the war. Within the time of the war 300 students graduated. Of course it was impossible to conduct lessons in in war-torn Poland, the school's temporary headquarters were in Southampton, England and Buckie, Scotland.

Tradition Hall, Maritime Academy in Gdynia

Since the end of the war the school lived through few name changes and granted permissions. Since opening its doors to first students it became full-blown higher education facility that educates at four faculties. I visited Tradition Hall (open since 1978) located in the main building of Maritime Academy, where I was able to find out about the interesting history of the school and see for myself part of its tradition locked in pictures, flags, first edition books and souvenirs collected on round-the-world journeys.

Maritime Academy of Gdynia