Mariners Weather Log

PMO - Gdynia Port Meteorological Officer, Jozef Kowalewski, Retires after 45 Years of Service

Jozef Kowalewski, the Gdynia, Port revised issues of meteorological Meteorological Officer, retired from service log books and code books for on August 1, 2001. shipping, adequate for changes in Jozef Kowalewski began his official WMO standards. He created government career 45 years ago when, upon indispensible documentation for graduating from Gdansk University, he introducing BATHY and TESAC began working with the Institute of codes for the Polish fleet. He also Meteorology and Water Management (PIM) took part in thepreparation of in Gdynia. printing instruction manuals for the TURBO 1 program. In September 1957, in connection with celebrations of the International Geophysical Not one for sitting still, Year when mandatory observations were Kowalewski performed PMO introduced on some selected Polish ships, he duties while also serving as Chief assumed the duties as PMO in Gdynia. Specialist of Maritime Meteorology in the Meteorological After introducing the voluntary scheme of Institute in Gdynia. observations (VOS) program, the number of participating vessels was grew steadily until Many a time he commanded it included almost all of polish merchant research expeditions within the shipping. Baltic area. He also visited the “exotic” port calls of Antarctica, Thanks to Kowalewski’s commitment and Iceland, Senegal, and Argentina. compassion for the duties of PMO, 428 of 544 vessels that were encouraged by him to In 1974, Kowalewski participated join the program responded positively. in a research voyage to the Atlantic equator zone - GARP program. In During the 45 years of his activity as PMO, 1976 he spent one month on board 4450 log books were collected with over on board Polish vessels servicing the the research vessel of the Gdynia Maritime route between Gdansk and . 762000 observations stored, 90% of which Academy participating in an educational were verified as being sent to appropriate voyage to Iceland. In the period from 1958 to 1998, Jozef WMO centers Kowalewski spent over 2000 days at sea, It was not the first time that he cooperated totally fulfilling a teenager’s dream of sea Kowalewski used to conduct about 200 with Scientific Institutes contributing to inspections yearly, making over 11000 visits adventures and satisfying his deep interest in establishing stronger ties between meteorology. accomplished in the period from 1957 to educational sources and the Polish 2002. Meteorological Service. Presently, though already retired, During the course of the routine checking of Kowalewski is still active as PMO. He visits At the turn of 1977/1978, he took part in a vessels lying in Polish ports as he used to do instruments, and providing instructions and research expedition with students to consulting, Kowalewski never missed the previously, waiting for the successor who Antarctica and spent three months on will continue his work. opportunity to discuss his shared interest of Arctowski, the Polish polar station. weather and meteorological phenomena with We wish Jozef and his wife Bronilawa fair crew members. From 1978 to 1988, Kowalewski was winds and following seas. engaged in a special meteorological research Jozef Kowalewski prepared successive program on the , sailing frequently

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