Almost 300 people - graduates of maritime schools, which have functioned in Szczecin for 70 years - took part in celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Maritime Education in West Pomerania.
The graduates came to the meeting from all around Poland as well as Europe and the world: the Netherlands, Germany, Canada. The meeting after years was an opportunity for participation in the grand gala and the concert of the Choir of the Maritime University of Szczecin together with Grupa MoCarta quartet.
The graduates were also able to visit the university, see “the old quarters” and check what has changed. The latest technologies - new navigation and mechanical simulators - made a huge impression. - We completed our studies in the early 1970s when we would not even dream about such possibilities - said Kazimierz Iwański, a graduate of the Faculty of Marine Engineering of the State Maritime School.
Graduates of the State Marine Fishery School, who call themselves “Herring Catchers”, had an opportunity to reminisce their school and commemorate the 55th anniversary of its establishment. Except for the university authorities, graduates and many eminent guests, the celebration was also attended by Minister Marek Gróbarczyk.
A very important tradition is meeting of the oldest graduates of the first State Maritime School - the Faculty of Navigation, which was established seventy years ago in the building in Piastów Alley.
The commemorating Mass was held in the Szczecin Cathedral and concelebrated personally by Archbishop Andrzej Dzięga. A traditional celebration accompanying the most important academic events is also the roll-call by the Monument In memory of those who were lost at sea in the Central Cemetery in Szczecin. The celebration was accompanied by a military orchestra and, according to the custom, was held in the presence of the Guards of Honour and the Colour Guard. The evening meting in the cemetery was also attended by the university authorities, representatives of institutions and companies from the maritime sector, employees and students of MUS. The special guests included Rectors from the Conference of Rectors of Polish Universities of Technology, who arrived in Szczecin to take part in the Conference meeting beginning on 1st June at the Maritime University of Szczecin.
During the celebrations of the 70th anniversary, the graduates also remembered to meet at the stone commemorating the State Maritime School from 1963, which was unveiled during the inauguration of the academic year 2016/17. Flowers under the monument were laid by the State Maritime School graduates as well as employees with the university authorities - Vice Rector for Maritime Affairs, Andrzej Bąk, and Chancellor Andrzej Durajczyk.
Many guests also gathered for book launching. Professor Aleksander Walczak, a long-term Rector of the Higher Maritime School, had an opportunity, on Friday, 2nd June, to present to the readers his latest book entitled “On the Szczecin School Fairway. Memories of the Maritime School Rector”. The book was “launched” from the board of Nawigator XXI and the godmother was Master Mariner Barbara Kwiecińska.
