The meeting of the committee was honoured with the presence of the Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation, Marek Gróbarczyk.  The committee sessions were held in Szczecin and Świnoujście in the period 23-24 October 2017. The two-day meeting of the Polish Academy of Sciences committee revolved mainly around the themes of maritime transport and the development prospects for inland waterways in Poland. The hosts of the meeting were the Rector of the Maritime University of Szczecin, Wojciech Ślączka, PhD. Eng., Master Mariner, Professor of MUS and Professor Wojciech Wawrzyński, the President of the Committee of Transport of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The special guests of the meeting were the President of the State Marine Accident Investigation Commission, Eugeniusz Chodań and the Director of the Maritime Office in Szczecin, Wojciech Zdanowicz.

The first session began with the speech of Minister Marek Gróbarczyk, who drew attention to the fact that Poland had undertaken the obligation towards other European countries to develop its inland waterways. The works focused on their construction, based on the improvement of navigability on the Vistula and Odra Rivers, are in their decisive phase. – On 6th November, in Wrocław, we will officially present the assumptions for construction of the Odra Waterway – announced Minister Gróbarczyk in Szczecin.

Research papers during the session were delivered by Professor Stanisław Gucma, PhD. Eng. Wojciech Ślączka, the Rector of the Maritime University of Szczecin. Professor Gucma’s presentation focused on designing comprehensive solutions for marine traffic engineering systems - based on the example of the LNG terminal and the external container terminal in Świnoujście. The presentation of Rector Ślączka provided a deeper insight into the research-based perspectives of development of inland waterways in Poland. The Rector emphasised the significance of waterways for development of the integrated transport chain.

The participants of the meeting also had an opportunity to visit the university as well as see the laboratories and simulators, which enable conducting research necessary for preparation of optimal solutions in maritime and inland transport. For the gala dinner and the second session, the participants went to Świnoujście to the House of Creative Work of the Maritime University of Szczecin.

During the meeting at the Maritime University of Szczecin, the Rector and Vice Rectors participating in the sessions were honoured with the Award of the Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation - the awards were received by Wojciech Ślączka, the Rector, Agnieszka Deja, PhD. Eng., Vice Rector for Teaching, Artur Bejger, PhD. Eng. Professor of MUS, Vice Rector for Science, and Andrzej Bąk, PhD. Eng., Master Mariner, Professor of MUS, Vice Rector for Maritime Affairs.