The Baltic - Poland’s future

Developing the Baltic Sea region, key to our country’s security, is a government priority.

“With extraordinary focus we look today to the Polish sea. Here, once again in our history, our story and our future are being written,”

said the Prime Minister, speaking on the deck of Dar Młodzieży during the inauguration of the academic year at Gdynia Maritime University.

Thanks to the government’s consistent actions, Poland is winning the competition to develop ports on the Baltic.

“We are becoming - and this is no exaggeration - a port powerhouse on our sea. It is on the Baltic that the largest energy projects in Poland’s history are being created: wind farms, a nuclear power plant, major infrastructure investments, the expansion of the port. All this compels us to think about the sea in far more ambitious terms than ever before,”

said the head of government.

Poland’s future on the Baltic will depend, among other things, on the development of the workforce linked to the maritime economy - above all on Polish seafarers.

“In these difficult times we need people who are courageous, well educated and determined. That is what our seafarers have been, are and must be in the future… In your hands, hearts and minds the future of the Polish Baltic will be decided,”

emphasised the Prime Minister.

He added that it would be up to future graduates of maritime universities whether the Baltic becomes a white-and-red sea.

Construction of new vessels, including a successor to Dar Młodzieży

The Prime Minister recalled that the government had decided to build two new vessels for Poland’s maritime universities - a sailing ship for Gdynia Maritime University and a training-and-research vessel for the Maritime University of Szczecin. Almost PLN 1 billion will be allocated for this purpose by 2029.

“We have decided to invest significant funds in the construction of two ships. We are investing in broadly understood infrastructure and knowledge, because this is a key element of our security,”

explained Donald Tusk.

Construction of the new three-masted sailing ship, which will replace the famous Dar Młodzieży after 44 years of service, is due to be completed in 2028. The ship will enable practical training for 120 cadets at a time. For the Szczecin university, a training-and-research vessel will be built to provide hands-on education during scientific voyages and multidisciplinary marine research.

“These will be not only future captains and officers on Polish ships - because we will also rebuild Poland’s fleet and flag - but also specialists who will ensure security in cyberspace,”

noted the Prime Minister.

He added that graduates of maritime universities would be able to harness the sea in fields such as energy, including wind power, and in underwater work on the natural resources of the Baltic.