Danuta Kobylinska-Walas – saying goodbye to the first female captain in Poland
June 23, 2025
Danuta Kobylinska-Walas has passed away – the first woman in Poland to earn the rank of sea captain in deep-sea navigation. She died on June 2025, at the age of 93, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of courage, determination, and maritime professionalism. Born in 1931 in Kozietu?y, she dreamed of the sea at a time when women were not even allowed to study at maritime schools. With fierce determination, she broke through social and institutional barriers, graduating from the Maritime School in Szczecin in 1951 and obtaining her sea captain license in 1962. She commanded numerous merchant vessels, including Bieszczady, Toru?, and Powstaniec Wielkopolski, earning respect for her wisdom, strength, and fairness.
In 1972, she led a four-day rescue mission to save the freighter Kopalnia Miechowice off the coast of Portugal – a feat that gained international recognition. She also stood in solidarity with striking shipyard workers during the 1970 protests in Szczecin, showing rare moral courage. Her efforts helped change maritime regulations, opening the way for women to attend maritime universities in the 1970s. Known as “the first captain in a skirt,” she often said that gender means nothing at sea – what counts are competence and conscience. She was honored with many state awards, including the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, and was named “Szczecin Woman of the Year.”
Her life was like a film script – filled with power, humor, and fearless decisions in the face of storms. She remained a mentor and source of inspiration for young seafarers until the end of her life. A memorial plaque in Szczecin’s Captain’s Square and a primary school in her hometown bearing her name ensure her legacy lives on. She was a pioneer, a symbol of breaking boundaries, and a silent hero of many sea stories. Danuta Kobyli?ska-Walas will remain forever on our eternal watch – a legend who sailed against the wind so that others could find their course. We honor her memory.
Picutre – Thanks to – Facebook/Magda Skrzynska
