“Dar Pomorza” – 90th anniversary of the Polish ship’s voyage around the world
By Marek Grzybowski
“Dar Pomorza” – 90 years ago, a Polish ship carrying Polish sailors from the Maritime Academy first sailed across all the world’s oceans. A jubilee celebration was held in Gdynia aboard this “White Frigate” on September 3, 2025. The ceremony was organized by the 1975-1980 class of WSM graduates, the National Maritime Museum, and the Polish Nautical Society.
The “Dar Pomorza” with students of the State Maritime School sailed around the world on a training sailing ship in 1934-1935. The event was hosted by the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk – owner of the Museum Ship “Dar Pomorza”, and the ceremony was led by Dr. Marcin Westphal – Deputy Director for Content Affairs of the National Maritime Museum, and Professor Captain Daniel Duda.
The ceremonial gathering was enhanced by performances by the Orchestra from the General Secondary School Complex – Primary School No. 9 in Rumia, named after Captain Karol Olgierd Borhardt, conducted by Jan Skałbania. The memory of all people of the sea was honored with a trumpet piece: “Sleep, My Mate.”
Honorary guests of the ceremony included: Prof. Marek Grzybowski, PhD, DSc, Eng., Marine Captain Andrzej Królikowski, PhD, Eng., President of the Maritime and River League, Tadeusz Szajna, MSc, Eng., Chairman of the Class Reunion Committee and a large group of participants in the reunion of the 1980 class of graduates of the Maritime University in Gdynia, Dr. Fryderyk Tomala, President of the Society of Friends of the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk, Rear Admiral Czesław Dyrcz, Prof. Dariusz Barbucha, Vice-Rector of the Maritime University, Daniel Hadam, Director of the Higher Secondary School Complex in Rumia, members of the Dar Pomorza crew, employees of the National Maritime Museum, and all guests.
“The voyage of the Dar Pomorza is an important event in promoting the Polish flag and Maritime Poland worldwide. By circumnavigating the globe for the first time, the Dar Pomorza demonstrated that Poland is focused on developing its maritime activities,” said Prof. Marek Grzybowski, Chairman of the Polish Nautical Society and President of the Baltic Maritime and Space Cluster.
Prof. Marek Grzybowski: “The Dar Pomorza was the first ship to promote the Polish flag and Polish sailors. The Polish sailors who participated in this voyage demonstrated that their knowledge acquired at various schools and under various flags serves the Polish flag. Polish sailors demonstrated 90 years ago that Poland is open to the world, and that this world can only be connected through the Polish port of Gdynia and by Polish ships”.
– There were many initiatives to build a Polish fleet. The initiative to establish a passenger fleet was successful. Earlier, Polish shipping lines were established, which expanded Poland’s trade connections. The ships sailed with the Polbryt shipping company. Pol-Levant’s ships connected Poland with the Levant countries. The Polish fleet followed the course set by the officers and sailors of the “Dar Pomorza,” stated Professor Marek Grzybowski.
Medals were awarded to: Szymon Kulas – director of the National Maritime Museum; Dr. Marcin Westphal – deputy director for substantive matters of the National Maritime Museum; Arleta Gałązka – curator of the Museum Ship Dar Pomorza; and Capt. Zbigniew Nadolski – captain of the Museum Ship Dar Pomorza.