Poland

Maritime Institute (Instytut Morski)

Maritime Institute - founded in 1950 - is the main research organisation in Poland which has been involved in maritime economy and technology for over fifty years. It has been leader of numerous large national and international research projects ordered by Polish Government institutions, private companies and organisations. Studies, evaluations and consultations as well as dissemination of the professional knowledge (conferences, seminars, publications) are also an important part of its activities.

The scope of research conducted by Maritime Institute is very wide. It includes such issues as shipping and port economics, maritime trade and transport forecasting, logistics centres aso.

More information: www.im.gda.pl

Maritime Institute in Gdansk
carries out complex research projects for the Polish maritime administration
and economy and performs tasks connected with the coastal situation
of the country.
The scope of work performed by 8 research departments covers: protection and shaping of the environment, transport management and maritime law, monitoring and prevention of hazards, marine technologies.

DIRECTIONS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WORK

PROTECTION AND SHAPING OF THE ENVIRONMENT
The work of scientists in three departments is concentrated around the natural environment problems: Maritime Hydrotechnics Department, Environment Protection Department, Geoengineering and Geoecology Department. In accordance with the BRZEG database standards, continuous coastal zone measurements have been carried out since 1987 and a detailed program of active coast protection is developed.
Work is being carried out connected with the reception and utilization of ship waste in the Polish ports, in accordance with the Baltic Strategy, constituting an element of the European integration process. Modern test equipment allows to carry out research in morphology and sedimentology and also to investigate harbour bottom deposits and develop methods of their utilization. A novelty is research in the development of sea wind power systems and biological investigation of the Baltic Sea. Research into the influence of maritime transport on the environment and human conditions is planned.

TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT AND MARITIME LAW
The problems of functioning and development of maritime economy in the changing conditions of market economy are dealt with mainly by the departments of: Economics and Law. The research problems comprise the land-sea transport logistics, electronic data interchange (EDI) technologies in the international maritime transport and trade, forecasting the marine economy development (the statistical investigations are summarized in the annual publication "Statistical Review of Maritime Economy"), sea and coastal tourism and also problems of the safety of ships and marine environment.
In the EU INTERREG III B program, the Maritime Institute is a national coordinator of the Network of Logistical Centres in the Baltic Region / NeLoC program and represents Poland in the international TEDIM program.
The Institute also coordinates a research project EUREKA-Slint “Sea-Land Intermodal Transport Along The Gdansk-Odessa Transport Corridor”. The new rail line alongside the projected transport corridor will reduce the transportation time of containers, trailers and bulk cargo from the Port of Odessa to the Baltic Sea ports in a multimodal transport system. It will also stimulate a significant growth of trade between Poland and the Ukraine and other Black Sea region countries as well.

MONITORING AND HAZARD PREVENTION
In the field of monitoring and preventing extraordinary hazards, the most significant is activity of the departments of: Operational Oceanography and Water Economy and Maritime Engineering.
The Maritime Institute scientists work now on the full implementation of the sea rescue operation and the chemical and oil spill pollution fighting computer information service as well as on the autonomous sea environment monitoring beacon service. The "Doktor Lubecki” research vessel, owned by the Maritime Institute, is a good basis for complex hydrographic and geophysical investigations in the open sea and in inshore zone, sea bottom exploration as well as locating and penetrating ship wrecks.
In 2002 two projects of the EU 5 PR were started: EUMARSAD – European marine sand and gravel deposits and PAPA – Baltic operational forecast network program.

A significant contribution to the prevention of hazards from floods, more and more often repeating in Poland, is made by the Water Economy and Maritime Engineering department (Szczecin branch of the Maritime Institute). Scientists of that department carry out research on the influence of wind on river hydrodynamics as well as on the influence of atmospheric pressure on the water level and flow in rivers. Mathematical models are created of flood flows and spreading of pollution in surface waters.

MARINE TECHNOLOGIES
Implementation of modern technological solutions to the maritime economy is dealt with by the Institute departments of: Marine Corrosion and Marine Electronics. Systematically carried out corrosion hazard investigations allow to develop, recommend and implement proper preventive actions in ships and hydrotechnical structures of the Polish maritime economy technical infrastructure. Control investigations and measurements are also carried out to protect personnel against electromagnetic radiation, to which activities Maritime Institute has authorisation of the Minister of Health and Minister of Environment.
In 2002 preparatory work started in the EU 5 PR CORROSION TESTING OF SHIPS project – detecting and fighting corrosion in ships (tankers) by means of sound wave emission.

The Maritime Institute cooperates, within the field of its research activity, with many European countries: Germany, Holland,

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, France, Great Britain, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Sweden and also the USA and China.
For many years the Maritime Institute has been active in the work of recognized international organizations, such as BOOS (Baltic Ocean Observing System), IMO, European Coast Protection Union, HELCOM – Sea-Based Pollution Group.
It is also a Coordinator of the PIANC Central and Eastern Europe Regional Group.
The Maritime Institute takes active part in many exhibitions as well as domestic and international fairs. In 2002 it participated, as the only institute from Poland, in the prestige international oceanographic fair and world exhibition "Oceanology International 2002” in Brighton, Great Britain.

MARITIME INSTITUTE
IN GDANSK
ul. Dlugi Targ 41/42
80-830 Gdansk
tel.: +48 58 301 16 41
fax: +48 58 301 35 13
e-mail: im@im.gda.pl
www.im.gda.pl

In case of any difficulties or questions please contact: marcin.burchacz@im.gda.pl