Dar Pomorza is a stunning three-masted tall ship docked at the waterfront in Gdynia. After years of hard service at sea, today it proudly serves as a museum ship. Every time I visit Gdynia, I love taking a stroll along Kościuszko Square, which leads to the harbour where Dar Pomorza is moored. Every visit is a joy and a delight, which is why I highly recommend adding this experience to your itinerary.
In the article below, I’ll tell you the fascinating history of this iconic ship and share tips on how to plan your visit and when is the best time to go to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. You’ll also find plenty of interesting facts and little-known details about this famous vessel.
The History of Dar Pomorza – Gdynia’s Museum Ship
The story of Dar Pomorza begins in the early 20th century at the Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. The ship was originally commissioned by the German Association of Training Ships and was named Prinzess Eitel Friedrich. It was intended to serve as a training vessel for crews of German merchant ships.
After its launch, the ship sailed across European waters and even ventured into the Caribbean Sea, where pirates once ruled the waves. During these voyages, the crew gained experience, and the ship turned out to be a reliable companion.
However, with the outbreak of World War I, the ship’s long voyages came to an end. Following the Treaty of Versailles, Prinzess Eitel Friedrich was handed over to France as part of war reparations. By 1922, the ship had fallen into the hands of a French shipping company, but it never went to sea due to a lack of crew.
Several years later, it was sold to Baron Maurice Arnold de Forest, a passionate enthusiast of technology and the burgeoning world of motorsports. The baron had grand plans to convert the ship into a luxury yacht, but after calculating the costs, it turned out to be cheaper to build a new yacht from scratch. As a result, the ship was put up for sale once again.
At the same time, the Polish National Fleet Committee was looking for a replacement for its aging training ship, Lwów. After brief negotiations, the ship was purchased, refitted in a Danish shipyard, and in 1930, it entered service under the Polish flag as Dar Pomorza (The Gift of Pomerania). This name honors the contributions from the Pomeranian people who helped finance its purchase and refurbishment.
Dar Pomorza Under the Polish Flag
In 1930, Dar Pomorza began its service in the Polish Merchant Navy, with Gdynia as its home port. It became a training vessel for the cadets of the Maritime School in Gdynia. Its first voyage took it to France and Norway, and a few years later, it became the first Polish ship to sail around the world.
Another major milestone occurred in 1937 when the ship, manned by a young crew, rounded Cape Horn. During World War II, Dar Pomorza sought refuge in Sweden, where it remained until the war ended. Afterward, it resumed its role as a training ship for both Gdynia’s and Szczecin’s maritime students.
Throughout the following decades, the ship continued to sail across the world’s seas and oceans. It participated in the U.S. bicentennial celebrations in 1976 and, in 1972, won the prestigious Operation Sail regatta, despite being one of the oldest ships in the race. In 1980, it triumphed again at The Tall Ships’ Races, earning the Cutty Sark Trophy, which honors ships that foster international friendship.
The End of an Era and the Transition to a Museum
After training over 13,000 students and covering a distance equal to multiple trips around the world, Dar Pomorza was retired from active service in 1982. Its replacement, the Dar Młodzieży (The Gift of Youth), was built in the Gdańsk Shipyard and continues its legacy today.
Rather than being sold or scrapped, a group of enthusiasts formed the Founding Committee of the Dar Pomorza Museum, ensuring that the ship would be preserved as a monument to Poland’s maritime heritage. In May 1983, Dar Pomorza was officially opened as a museum ship, allowing visitors to explore its storied decks and learn about its long history at sea.
Visiting Dar Pomorza in Gdynia
Whenever I can, I visit Dar Pomorza during the summer. The warm weather makes the experience even more enjoyable, and the exhibitions during this time are often more engaging.
Exploring this large, tall ship is a real treat. Walking across the various decks, connected by narrow staircases and passages, requires a bit of agility, especially when the ship is crowded. To avoid the rush, I recommend arriving right when the museum opens at 10:00 AM.
The tour takes you through four decks, where you’ll find exhibitions about the ship’s history, the officers who commanded it, and the cadets who trained aboard. Below the main deck, you’ll discover restored rooms filled with artefacts from the ship’s 50 years of service, including the mess hall, sickbay, and engine room. One of the highlights is the captain’s cabin, which once belonged to Karol Olgierd Borchardt, the ship’s commander and a famous Polish writer.
You’ll also see the cadet quarters, where trainees lived during long voyages, now transformed into a display filled with photos, maps, and flags from various expeditions. And don’t miss the sail storage area, which once held over two kilometres of sails.
The entire visit took me about an hour and a half, though official guides suggest it takes around 40 minutes. Keep in mind that the ship can only accommodate 100 visitors at a time, so there may be a wait, especially in peak season.
Dar Pomorza technical data and description of the sailing ship
- Year of construction: 1909.
- The first name of the ship was: Prinzess Eitel Friedrich.
- The total length of the Dar Pomorza is 81.5 meters.
- The width of the ship is 12.6 meters.
- The draft is 5.7 meters.
- The types of sails of the ship is a frigate.
- The ship is made of steel.
- The displacement of the unit is 2500 tons.
- The number of crew during the cruise is 190 people, including 150 cadets and students.
- The area of all sails spread on the ship is 2100 square meters.
- The height of the masts is 41.4 meters.
- The Dar Pomorza also has a diesel engine with a power of 430 horsepower.
- The maximum speed of the ship is 17 knots, and the average speed under sail is 5 knots.
- Under the Polish flag, the Dar Pomorza has made 102 cruises.
- The total distance covered by the sailing ship is 500 thousand nautical miles.
- 13,384 students trained on the sailing ship.
- Throughout its history, it was commanded by 6 captains (traditionally called commanders).
- From 1929 to 1938, the ship was commanded by Konstanty Matyjewicz-Maciejewicz.
- From 1938 to 1945, the commander was Konstanty Kowalski.
- From 1946 to 1952, the commander was Stefan Gorazdowski.
- From 1953 to 1977, the unit was commanded by Kazimierz Jurkiewicz.
- From 1977 to 1982, the last of the captains, Tadeusz Olechnowicz, took command of the Dar Pomorza.
- The Dar Pomorza replaced the previous training sailing ship Lwów, and was itself replaced by the Dar Młodzieży.
The Dar Pomorza sailing ship and museum – practical information
- Address: Dar Pomorza Museum Ship, Aleja Jana Pawła II, 81-345 Gdynia.
- To get to the museum, it is best to get off the trolleybus at the Skwer Kościuszki stop or at the Shopping Mall Batory stop or at the Plac Kaszubski stop.
- If you come to Gdynia by car, you can park at Aleja Jana Pawła II, where the spaces are free on weekends. You can find a paid space at the Gdynia Aquarium, at the Multikino or on Washington Street. There are probably more spaces, but I am only mentioning the ones I used myself.
- You will find a bicycle parking space by the museum itself.
- When visiting Dar Pomorza, remember that the passages between decks can be very narrow, and the stairs and passages very narrow, so if you have a problem with this, think twice before going below the deck of the sailing ship.
- An important piece of information that you should also remember is that only 100 people can stay on the ship at the same time. Therefore, be prepared to stand in a smaller or larger queue, especially during the season. In addition, if you are with a larger group, you will not necessarily enter together.
- Wheelchair users can only visit the main deck.
- You will find captions and texts in Polish and English on the exhibitions.
- There are no toilets on the ship, but there is a souvenir shop.
- Ticket prices and opening hours may change, so I refer you to the official website of the museum.
- The ship can be rented for various occasions, information about this can be found on the museum website.
Dar Pomorza legendary sailing ship facts, information, and curiosities
- The Dar Pomorza was built in 1910 in Hamburg at the Blohm und Voss shipyard.
- The shipyard where the Dar Pomorza was built was one of the most important factories building warships for the German army during World War II. It built units such as the Admiral Hipper, Bismarck and the famous and dangerous German submarines called U-Boot.
- The Dar Pomorza was purchased by the National Fleet Committee for the Maritime School in Gdynia for the amount of 7,000 British pounds, which was a small part of the actual value of the ship.
- Initially, the sailing ship was named Pomorze, but it was changed to Dar Pomorza to commemorate the fact that a large part of the purchase price of the ship came from a collection by the residents of Pomerania.
- Before entering service under the Polish flag, the Dar Pomorza was renovated in the Danish shipyard in the city of Nakskov.
- The Dar Pomorza is one of the most popular attractions in Gdynia. It is visited by over 100,000 tourists each year.
- The Dar Pomorza is commonly called the White Frigate and is considered by many to be the most beautiful sailing ship in the world.
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