Maritime University of Szczecin opens the 2025/2026 academic year

Honouring those who never returned from the sea

As tradition dictates, the inauguration began with a solemn Memorial Ceremony at the monument “To Those Who Did Not Return from the Sea” at Szczecin’s Central Cemetery. Representatives of the University – including the Honor Guard Company, faculty members, students, and numerous regional delegations – paid tribute to generations of seafarers who devoted their lives to the sea.

Official inauguration ceremony

The official inauguration took place on 4 October, gathering representatives of the national and local authorities, the maritime business community, and academic partners.

In his opening address, Rector Prof. Wojciech Ślączka, PhD, DSc (Eng.), underlined the importance of maritime education in an era of rapid technological transformation and emphasized the University’s commitment to development and innovation.

- I warmly welcome you to our University. You are entering a unique stage of life — a time of learning, developing passions, and shaping your identity. Have the courage to ask questions, the determination to pursue your goals, and the resilience to turn challenges into successes. You will soon find that choosing the Maritime University of Szczecin was an excellent decision, said the Rector.

A new training vessel – the flagship of the University

A highlight of this year’s inauguration was the address by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Arkadiusz Marchewka, who, on behalf of the Polish Government, presented an official resolution launching a multiannual national program to build a new training vessel for the Maritime University of Szczecin.

The new ship will serve as a modern training and research platform, enhancing the University’s ability to provide world-class practical education for future maritime professionals.

- This is a great moment of pride. Students deserve the best conditions for learning, researchers deserve access to cutting-edge technology, and the University deserves a ship that will serve as its ambassador and flagship, said Deputy Minister Marchewka.

Towards the future of maritime innovation

The ceremony also included the matriculation of first-year students, as well as the awarding of academic distinctions and the promotion of new PhD and habilitated doctors. An important moment was the formal handover of the chain of office to Dr. hab. Eng. Witold Kazimierski, the newly appointed Dean of the Faculty of Geoengineering and Environmental Protection.

The inauguration concluded with a ceremonial parade by the University Honor Guard and first-year students, accompanied by the Navy Band from Świnoujście, which also provided the musical setting for the Memorial Ceremony.

The beginning of the new academic year marks not only a continuation of the University’s maritime traditions but also the launch of new research, development, and international projects. The Maritime University of Szczecin is entering this academic year with clear determination, energy, and purpose – maintaining its course towards the future of maritime education and innovation.