The Baltic Fisheries Training Center in Kolobrzeg is to improve the efficiency of the fishing industry, balance the exploitation of living aquatic resources and aquaculture in the context of sustainable development and to increase the competitiveness of Polish marine fisheries by improving the level of training the staff of the fisheries sector. Fishermen and sailors will be trained in accordance with the latest regulations (including the STCW-F Convention, which will be ratified by Poland in autumn 2013). Fishermen will be able to raise here the qualifications and skills or to retrain and learn a new profession. Trainees will be fishermen from all over the country, but not only,- the offer will also be targeted to people from other Baltic countries working in the fisheries sector.

Impressive are the center’s modern facilities - laboratories, computer rooms, and above all 3D full mission bridge simulator of a vessel with the possibility of the use of trawl gear and bottom set (with visualization 360 degrees). This is the latest of this type of simulator with this version of the software and equipment in Europe, which enables maneuvering units of various design and size, and operating such devices as ARPA, ECDIS, radar or AIS. In addition, the center consists of: GMDSS laboratory, diagnostic engine room (8 posts), net workshop (models of demersal and pelagic nets, fishing gear position to weave networks and line treatment plants, testing their strength, welding) and the embankment of the ground to exercise, among others, rescue and fire drills.

The opening ceremony of OSRB in Kolobrzeg attended Ewa Szczepańska, the director of the Department of Budget at the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Maritime Economy, Deputy Governor of West Pomeranian Province, Ryszard Micko, board member of the region Anna Miecznikowska, President of Kolobrzeg, Janusz Gromek, Vice President of the Port of Kolobrzeg Ltd. Artur Lijewski and the authorities of the Maritime University: Rector - Prof. Stanislaw Gucma, Vice-Rector for Science Artur Bejger, PhD and Vice-Rector for Maritime Affairs, Andrzej Bak, PhD. After presenting the history of the center by the project manager, Wojciech Ślączka, PhD, all guests visited the laboratories, lecture halls and net workshop.

The cost of building the center was about 14 million PLN, half of which is EU subsidies from the European Fisheries Fund within the framework of the signed with the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture contract for the financing of the ‘Start-up Training Centre for Baltic Fisheries in Kolobrzeg as a modern training tool’.