On October 29, a significant event took place at the Russian University of Transport. 245 girls and boys – students of the first courses of the Academy of Water Transport and the College of the Academy of Water Transport named after Minister of the River Fleet L.V. Bagrov – were solemnly initiated into cadets for the first time.

RUT is the leading transport university of the country, the oldest higher technical educational institution in Russia, founded in 1896. The Water Transport Division has been in its composition for only 2.5 years. Nevertheless, sailors have already become the hallmark of the university, where the best cadet traditions are being revived.

Young people were congratulated by Alexander Klimov, Rector of RUT, and the guests of honor, including Kirill Gaida, Deputy General Director for Navigation Safety of FSUE “Rosmorport”.

“I want to note the importance of this solemn moment for every cadet,” Kirill Gaida expressed his opinion about the event. – The first intake of the Academy students who passed the dedication will forever be inscribed in golden letters in the history of the educational institution. To cherish the honor of the uniform from a young age, to continuously strive to improve the skills acquired in the chosen specialty, to help comrades and to be a worthy successor of the best traditions of the Russian Navy – these are the tasks of everyone who decided to devote their-selves to the maritime industry.”

According to the organizers, rehearsals for the dedication were held for a month and a half. Girls and boys learned the hymn, the solemn oath, and the rules of construction. During this time, they have formed a sense of command, crew, which is especially important in the maritime business, where one for all, all for one.

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Domestic education on water transport has its roots in the Peter the Great era. In 1701, the first state specialized educational institution in Russia, the School of Mathematical and Navigation Sciences, was established in the chambers of the Sukharev Tower in Moscow. With the creation of such a school, there was no more need to teach seamanship outside of our homeland. In 1839, Nicholas I issued a decree that obliged all Russian shipowners to accept one cadet on board the vessel. “Without an intern on board, no vessel should leave the port.” Thus, the problem of practice for future rivermen and sailors was solved. In the twentieth century, the demand for qualified employees of water transport increased significantly, many specialized educational institutions appeared in the system of higher education and secondary special level.

In 2019, the Academy of Water Transport was established on the basis of the Russian University of Transport. The Academy provides a high level of higher professional education in the field of sea and river transport, combined with an innovative approach and advanced scientific achievements. The College of the Academy of Water Transport named after Minister of the River Fleet L.V. Bagrov prepares floating personnel for inland waterways, specialists in the field of transportation and logistics for shipping companies, ports and berths.