Peace Boat at Westerplatte

07.06.2010

On 3 June 2010, SS "Oceanic" docked at Westerplatte - the Gdansk port's most renown quay in the world. This exquisite, ocean-going cruise ship chartered by the international organisation of "Peace Boat" visited Gdansk on its peace mission. In addition to her 800 passengers, the ship brought a group of ten Hibakusha -descendents of the Japanese survivors of the nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Their agenda promoting peace, respect of the human rights, sustainable social and economic development as well as the environmental protection - initiated by the mayors of the both cities destroyed 65 years ago - includes meetings with the local communities in places also tragically affected by the war atrocities. During its 25 year's existence, "Peace Boat" has made over 60 cruises and visited over 100 ports across 80 countries.

The boat's sixty-ninth voyage was commenced in Japan on 6 April and will come to an end on 25 July. In the meantime, she is scheduled to call at 22 ports across 20 countries. SS "Oceanic" arrived in Gdansk on her way from Copenhagen to Sankt Petersburg. After they laid flowers to commemorate the Defenders of Westerplatte, the visitors took a walk in the Old Town and were received by the Mayor of Gdansk, Pawel Adamowicz at the Artus' Court. They presented a thousand of paper cranes, symbolizing a happy life in Japan, as a symbolic gift to the Museum of World War II.

SS "Oceanic" was built in 1965 by the Italian shipyard of Monfalcone. This 238-metre long and 29-metre wide ship can ensure comfortable cruising to her 1550 passengers.

PGA SA Public Relations Officer