University Celebrations were inaugurated by a ceremonial flag’s raising in front of the main edifice of the University, at Chrobry’s Embankment. Afterwards, a University’s delegation and representatives of maritime economy of the region laid flowers at a commemorative plaque at 19 Aleja Piastów street in Szczecin, a former seat of the National Maritime Academy, currently the West Pomeranian University of Technology. In the main edifice Alumni participated in a programme of the 40th anniversary of their graduation from the Maritime University. The meeting of graduates and academic staff was attended by, among others, current Rector of the Maritime University of Szczecin, Prof. DSc. PhD. Eng. Master Mariner Stanisław Gucma (a then lecturer), Prof. DSc. PhD. Master Mariner Aleksander Walczak, Capt. Master Mariner Andrzej Jaśkiewicz, Capt. Master Mariner Jan Prüffer (then deans of the Faculty of Navigation), an assistant professor Maciej Tarchalski (a year’s supervisor and Vice-Rector for Students Affairs). PhD. Eng. Capt. Master Mariner Jacek Trojanowski (being one of 1974 Alumni himself), who ran the meeting, encouraged the guests to share their memories.

The guests were welcomed by Prof. Gucma, who reminded that these were the graduates of 1974 for whom he had conducted the first exam in his academic career. Prof. Walczak reminded that it was the year of great youth with incredible imagination: “ If not for cooling your tempers, you would have probably demolished whole Szczecin”. He also recalled devotion and help during the events of December ’70 in Szczecin, when students donated blood, and stressed that it was the year of people who were able to build great interpersonal bonds and created splendid atmosphere during the studies. At the end Prof. Walczak, being still an active lecturer at the Maritime University of Szczecin, ordered: “And remember, do not grow old!”. PhD. Tarchalski, a year’s supervisor, was very moved and said that 40 years had passes as if it had been just a second: “But still, after all those years, let me apologize if I hurt any of you”.

Every year, the main item on the agenda of University Celebrations is an open, ceremonial University’s Senate session. This year it was attended by, inter alia, Vice-Minister of Infrastructure and Development – Mrs Dorota Pyć, Voivode of the Zachodniopomorskie voivodeship – Mr Marek Tałasiewicz, Vice-Marshal of the Zachodniopomorskie voivodeship – Mr Wojciech Dróżdż and Vice-Director of navigation marking of the Maritime Office in Szczecin – Mr Zenon Kozłowski. The session was inaugurated by a performance of the University choir conducted by Mrs Sylwia Fabiańczyk-Makuch.

Dean of the Faculty of Navigation, PhD. Eng. Master Mariner Jerzy Hajduk presented a history of the year 1974 Alumni – mentioning a candidates cruise, the first long, three-month practical training aboard Dar Pomorza and work placements at Polish Ocean Lines and Polsteam PŻM. Minister Dorota Pyć congratulated the authorities on the high teaching level, great management of the University and uninterrupted efforts towards development and education levels: „ I wish you good fortune, further ambitious plans and innovative projects. And I would like to congratulate the first Alumni of the University on such a beautiful jubilee.” she said.

During the Senate session, PhD. Eng. Master Mariner Jerzy Hajduk was presented with a appointment to the head of the Master Mariner’s Club – the leadership was passed down by Master Mariner Wiktor Czapp.

Another fixed point on the agenda of University Celebrations is also granting the “Sea Dog” statuette and a prize for the most active student. This year “Sea Dog” was handed to Mr Paweł Szynkaruk – a managing director of the Polish Steamship Company. In a laudation , the head of the awards committee: Vice-Rector for Teaching, Piotr Treichel, PhD. Eng. underlined that in spite of the crisis on financial markets PSC remained the biggest ship-owner on the Polish market. Its investments in the program of fleet reconstruction, efforts towards company’s development and providing work to Polish seamen were also appreciated: “He made a Polish ship-owner one of the most recognizable brands all over the world”. The laureate thanked the University authorities for the years of cooperation – “Students of the Maritime University have always been of crucial importance to PSC and I hope it will remain so.” – he said.

Karolina Wiśniewska was voted the most active student. She is a student of the first year of Master programme in Production management and engineering, specialization: Logistics and management in European transport system at the Faculty of Economics and Transport Engineering at the Maritime University of Szczecin. The board of the Students Government recognized her active participation in, inter alia, Logistics and Transport Research Club since October 2009 (she has been chairing the club since 2012) and organisation of Sea Point Transport-Logistics symposium, as well as organization of the 1st Youth Congress during the 1st International Maritime Congress. Karolina Wiśniewska has also been an active participant of the Academic Sports Union Club of the Maritime University of Szczecin (e.g. 3rd prize in women’s rowing machine Open Championships, November 2012), she represents the Maritime University of Szczecin as a CSR Ambassador of Responsible Business League – an educational programme of Responsible Business Forum. The student has also been cooperating with the West Pomeranian Maritime Cluster. Her engineer diploma paper was awarded the best grade (Bachelor level programme in Production management and engineering in the area of Logistics and management in European transport system at the Faculty of Economics and Transport Engineering of the Maritime University of Szczecin, final grade 4.5 in 2013).

Within the University Celebrations, Interdepartmental Multi-Discipline Swimming Contest, for the Rector’s Cup, was also organised at the University’ swimming-pool. In the afternoon, the employees and students enjoyed an outdoor picnic-party.