Polish Shipowners' Association was established on 25 May 1929 in Gdynia. The initiator and first president of the Association was Julian Rummel, then director of the shipping company Żegluga Polska S.A., established in 1926.
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Purpose
The purpose of establishing ZAP, from its inception, bringing together the most important Polish shipowners, was to protect the interests of the association's members against unfair competition, to solve the most important problems of day-to-day operations, to strengthen the negotiating position vis-à-vis the government, to pursue a common freight, tariff and insurance policy, etc.
Employers' Association
Since its establishment, ZAP has also been an association of employers representing the interests of Polish seafarers and land-based employees of shipowning companies towards state institutions, international organisations and maritime administration.
Composition
The pre-war Association of Polish Shipowners consisted of such companies as: Żegluga Polska S.A., Gdynia America Shipping Lines S.A., Polsko-Brytyjskie Towarzystwo Okrętowe S.A., Polskarob Polsko-Skandynawskie Towarzystwo Okrętowe, Ławica Towarzystwo Połowów Dalekomorskich Sp. z o.o, Bałtycka Spółka Okrętowa Sp. z o.o., Rothert i Kiłaczycki Sp. z o.o., Korab Towarzystwo Połowów Dalekomorskich Sp. z o.o., Delfin Towarzystwo Polowów Dalekomorskich Sp. z o.o., Adam Towarzystwo Połowów Dalekomorskich Sp. z o.o.
First President
The first president of the ZAP, from 1929 to 1931, was the president of Żegluga Polska, founder of the Polish-British Shipbuilding Society Polbryt and the Gdynia-America Line (GAL) Julian Rummel, who was succeeded by the president of Polbryt and then the president of Żegluga Polska, Feliks Kollat (1931-1941).
World War II
ZAP did not stop its activities during the Second World War either, but its headquarters were moved from Gdynia to London. On the basis of the Ordinance of the Minister of Industry and Trade of 28.10.1938 on the exercise of supreme management over shipping companies, the Act on Universal Obligation to Provide Services in Kind of 30.03.1939 and executive orders, a ‘compulsory’ of Polish Shipowners’ Association was established in Great Britain, bringing together all shipping and fishing companies mentioned above. To emphasise the continuity of the Association, its name and permanent headquarters (Gdynia) were left in place, with the addition of a temporary headquarters (London).
In exile, in 1941. Feliks Kollat was replaced as president of ZAP by Stanislaw Darski, then president of Żegluga Polska, registered in London as Polish Steamship Agency Limited (PSAL).
In exile, in 1941. Feliks Kollat was replaced as president of ZAP by Stanislaw Darski, then president of Żegluga Polska, registered in London as Polish Steamship Agency Limited (PSAL).
After the war
After the war, due to the unfavourable political conditions in Poland for employers‘ organisations, the Polish Shipowners’ Association was not reactivated in the country. Officially, therefore, at the end of July 1945, the association was liquidated. Over the following decades, Polish shipowners operated independently and did not form any independent associations to represent their common interests. The idea of reactivating an organisation that would unite Polish shipowners was conceived under martial law, on 17 February 1983, and its originator was the then chief executive of Polska Żegluga Morska and at the same time president of the newly established Żegluga Polska S.A. Ryszard Karger. Together with the director of Polskie Linie Oceaniczne Tadeusz Grembowicz and the director of Polska Żegluga Bałtycka Janusz Rutkowski, they established an organisation called the Polish Merchant Marine Shipowners' Association (ZAPMH). The ceremonial signing of the founding act took place on board the transatlantic ship Stefan Batory.
New objectives
The main objective of ZAPMH, as it reads in its founding act, was: ‘to shape conditions conducive to the comprehensive development of the Polish fleet and to protect the fundamental interests of their members’. It was also agreed that the costs of the association's activities would be borne by its members in proportion to the size of the fleet defined in gross registered tonnes.
The first president of the ZAPMH was the managing director of what was then the largest Polish shipowner, Polskie Linie Oceaniczne, Tadeusz Grembowicz. He held this position from February to July 1983, after which he was replaced by Ryszard Karger (PŻM). Other presidents of ZAP in the 1980s were Mieczysław Kowalikowski (PLO), Mieczysław Andruczyk (PŻM) and Stanisław Gębicki (PŻB).
At the end of 1992, during one of the meetings of the Polish Merchant Navy Shipowners‘ Association, the then chief executive officer of the Polish Ocean Lines and at the same time president of ZAPMH, Henryk Dąbrowski, proposed that the association should return to its old pre-war name - the Polish Shipowners’ Association, continuing its traditions and basic principles. The formal transformation took place on 3 September 1993 and Henryk Dąbrowski became the first president of the reactivated ZAP.
The first president of the ZAPMH was the managing director of what was then the largest Polish shipowner, Polskie Linie Oceaniczne, Tadeusz Grembowicz. He held this position from February to July 1983, after which he was replaced by Ryszard Karger (PŻM). Other presidents of ZAP in the 1980s were Mieczysław Kowalikowski (PLO), Mieczysław Andruczyk (PŻM) and Stanisław Gębicki (PŻB).
At the end of 1992, during one of the meetings of the Polish Merchant Navy Shipowners‘ Association, the then chief executive officer of the Polish Ocean Lines and at the same time president of ZAPMH, Henryk Dąbrowski, proposed that the association should return to its old pre-war name - the Polish Shipowners’ Association, continuing its traditions and basic principles. The formal transformation took place on 3 September 1993 and Henryk Dąbrowski became the first president of the reactivated ZAP.
Presidents and Secretaries
Since the reactivation of the Polish Shipowners' Association, its presidents have been successively : Henryk Dąbrowski (PLO), Franciszek Makarewicz (Polsteam), Mirosław Hapko (PLO), Paweł Brzezicki (Polsteam), Krzysztof Kremky (PLO), Paweł Porzycki (Euroafrica Linie Żeglugowe), Paweł Szynkaruk (Polsteam), again Paweł Brzezicki (Polsteam), Andrzej Wróblewski (Polsteam) and currently, from 2024, Dariusz Doskocz from Polsteam.
Much less frequent changes were made to the key position of Secretary General. Ryszard Niemiec of PLO, who took up the post in 1993, held it until 2006, when he was replaced by Adolf Wysocki of Euroafrica Shipping Lines. In 2015, the position of ZAP secretary was filled by Piotr Zelasko of Polsteam, followed in 2019 by Robert Wilczyński of Polsteam who was replaced in 2024 by Marcin Talwik of Żegluga Polska SA, who currently holds this position.
Much less frequent changes were made to the key position of Secretary General. Ryszard Niemiec of PLO, who took up the post in 1993, held it until 2006, when he was replaced by Adolf Wysocki of Euroafrica Shipping Lines. In 2015, the position of ZAP secretary was filled by Piotr Zelasko of Polsteam, followed in 2019 by Robert Wilczyński of Polsteam who was replaced in 2024 by Marcin Talwik of Żegluga Polska SA, who currently holds this position.
Contemporary
The current statutory objectives of the Polish Shipowners' Association include active participation in the creation of the state's maritime policy, striving to create competitive conditions for the Polish transport fleet on international shipping markets, creating a rational system of financing tonnage investments, participating in legislative processes related to maritime transport, foreign cooperation through participation in international maritime organisations and popularisation of the maritime economy.
ZZAP is a member of the European Community Shipowners‘ Associations (ECSA) in Brussels, the employers’ association - Employers of Poland, cooperates with the Polish Chamber of Maritime Commerce in Gdynia and the Shortsea Promotion Centre Poland in Szczecin.
The Polish Shipowners' Association currently has 12 members.
ZZAP is a member of the European Community Shipowners‘ Associations (ECSA) in Brussels, the employers’ association - Employers of Poland, cooperates with the Polish Chamber of Maritime Commerce in Gdynia and the Shortsea Promotion Centre Poland in Szczecin.
The Polish Shipowners' Association currently has 12 members.
- 1929 - 1931: Julian Rummel
- 1931 - 1941: Felix Kollat
- 1941 - 1945: Stanislaw Darski
- 1983 - 1983: Tadeusz Grembowicz (Polskie Linie Oceaniczne)
- 1983 - 1984: Ryszard Karger (Polska Żegluga Morska)
- 1984 - 1986: Mieczyslaw Kowalikowski (Polskie Linie Oceaniczne)
- 1986 - 1988: Mieczyslaw Andruczk (Polska Żegluga Morska)
- 1988 - 1992: Stefan Gębicki (Polska Żegluga Bałtycka)
- 1992 - 1993: Henryk Dabrowski (Polskie Linie Oceaniczne)
- 1983 - 1986: Janusz Mondalski (Polskie Linie Oceaniczne)
- 1986 - 1988: Jerzy Grudzinski (Żegluga Polska SA)
- 1988 - 1990: Stanislaw Blaszczyk (Polska Żegluga Bałtycka)
- 1990 - 1992: Stanislaw Rutkowski (Polskie Ratownictwo Okrętowe)
- 1992 - 1993: Ryszard Niemiec (Polskie Linie Oceaniczne)
- 1993 - 1994: Henryk Dabrowski (Polskie Linie Oceaniczne)
- 1994 - 1996: Franciszek Makarewicz (Polska Żegluga Morska)
- 1996 - 1999: Miroslaw Hapko (Polskie Linie Oceaniczne)
- 1999 - 2001: Paweł Brzezicki (Polska Żegluga Morska)
- 2001 - 2003: Krzysztof Kremky (Polskie Linie Oceaniczne)
- 2003 - 2006: Pawel Porzycki (Euroafrica Linie Żeglugowe)
- 2006 - 2017: Pawel Szynkaruk (Polska Żegluga Morska)
- 2017 - 2020: Paweł Brzezicki (Polska Żegluga Morska)
- 2020 - 2024: Andrzej Wróblewski (Polska Żegluga Morska)
- 2024 - present: Dariusz Doskocz (Polska Żegluga Morska)
- 1993 - 2006: Ryszard Niemiec (Polskie Linie Oceaniczne)
- 2006 - 2015: Adolf Wysocki (Euroafrica Linie Żeglugowe)
- 2015 - 2019: Piotr Żelasko (Polska Żegluga Morska)
- 2019 - 2024: Robert Wilczynski (Polska Żegluga Morska)
- 2024 - present: Marcin Talwik (Żegluga Polska)
- Polish Baltic Shipping Company / 1993-
- Euroafrica Services Limited Branch in Poland / 1993-
- Dredging and Underwater Works Company / 1993-
- Polish Ocean Lines / 1995-
- Gdynia Maritime University (WSM, Maritime Academy) / 1998-
- Chipolbrok – Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Company / 1999-
- Maritime Univeristy of Szczecin (WSM, Maritime Academy) / 1999-
- Polish Steamship Company / 1993-2003, 2006-
- Żegluga Polska SA / 1999-2003, 2006-
- Unity Line Limited Branch in Poland / 1999-2003, 2006-
- Polskie Ratownictwo Okrętowe / 1993-94, 1997-2001, 2007-
- Fairplay Towage Polska / 2012-
- Baltic Container Lines / 2003-2010
- Baltic Uniservice / 1993-1995
- Dragmor Sp z o.o. / 1993-1995
- Lotos Petrobaltic / 1993-2013
- PABLine Shipping / 1993-1995
- Pazim / 2006-2012
- Pol-America Inc / 1993-2000
- POL-EURO / 2003-2016
- POL-Levant / 1995-2014
- PPiUR SZKUNER / 2003-2003
- Projekt Żegluga / 2003-2012
- PPiUR DALMOR / 1993-1999, 2000-2011
- PPiUR GRYF / 1993-2000
- Ship-Service / 1995-2012, 2014-2021
- Stena Line – Polska / 1999-2001, 2004-2019
- Transocean / 1993-2000
- Unibaltic / 2004-2017
- ZUŻ Szczecin / 2006-2011
- Żegluga Pomorska / 2000-2004