GMU Hosts External Sitting of Parliamentary Committee on Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation
On 26 March 2025, GMU hosted an External Sitting of the Parliamentary Committee on Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation in the T. Meissner Auditorium in the main University building. Taking part in the event were GMU authorities, including HM The Rector, Professor Adam Weintrit. Contributing to the proceedings, which included a discussion lasting several hours, were members of the Polish Sejm (members of the Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation Committee), including members of the praesidium: Chair Kacper Płażyński, Deputy Chairs Krzysztof Szymański and Jarosław Wałęsa, as well as Dorota Arciszewska-Mielewczyk, Piotr Głowski, Stanisław Lamczyk and Rafał Siemaszko. Also taking part in the sitting was the Deputy Governor of Pomerania, Emil Rojek.
The sitting, which was also attended by representatives of the Minister of Infrastructure, the Ministry for Agriculture and Development of Rural Communities, and the Ministry for Climate and the Environment, was opened by the Chair of the Committee on Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation and member of the Sejm Kacper Płażyński. The Ministry of Infrastructure was represented by the Director of the Department of Maritime Education, Wojciech Gąsowki, the Ministry for Agriculture and Development of Rural Communities, was represented by Secretary of State Jacek Czerniak, whereas the Ministry for Climate and the Environment was represented by the 2nd Deputy of the Head Inspector for Environmental Protection, Alicja Żelichowska.
The sitting opened with a presentation by HM The Rector of GMU, Professor Adam Weintrit, entitled: "Maritime education in the age of modern challenges in global shipping", during which the parliamentarians and participants of the event were presented with the key challenges in the training of merchant fleet personnel faced daily by maritime universities in Poland and around the world. HM The Rector touched on topics such as the globalisation of marine transport, including increases in global trade and its impact on changes in the industry. He also discussed challenges posed to maritime education by technological development, including ship automation, AI, and universal digitalisation and robotisation. The Rector's presentation additionally mentioned climate change and ecological regulations, an example of which is the need to consider pro-ecological policy and associated regulations, such as IMO 2020, in maritime education. He also indicated challenges in maritime education related to safety and risk management, referring to the contemporary issue of piracy at sea.
HM The Rector highlighted that, in the face of such challenges, the University must demonstrate an extraordinary ability to adapt across the entire education process. He commented that GMU has for more than 100 years been an institution that has a real and lasting impact on the development of the maritime industry. The Rector concluded with the comment that sustainable development is not only the responsibility of the University but a matter of national importance. In concern for the further development of the country's maritime economy, it is necessary to educate specialists concerned with ecology, safety, and innovation in shipping.
The next item on the agenda concerned small-scale fishing in the context of cultural heritage in the region of North Kashubia. The discussion was led by the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Rural Communities, Jacek Czerniak, who addressed the gradual disappearance of small-scale fishing and the consequences for the region.
The last point of the meeting concerned information on the state of the environment in the waters of Gdańsk Bay, with particular emphasis on Puck Bay, including the reasons for the rapid decline in the populations of both consumable and protected fish, as well as the negative transformations in the marine and terrestrial ecosystems, along with the presentation of effective corrective actions. The topic was presented by representatives from the Ministry for Agriculture and Development of Rural Communities, the Ministry for Climate and the Environment, and the Minister for Infrastructure.
Actively involved in the proceedings were representatives of the maritime community, including fishermen, researchers and experts involved in maritime issues on a daily basis, including marine environmental protection.
The sitting was closed by the Chair of the Committee on Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation and member of the Sejm Kacper Płażyński. The guests were also thanked for their attendance and contributions to the discussions by Rector Professor Adam Weintrit.
