MS Piłsudski – a floating embassy of Polish culture

The idea of the project 
On the one hundredth anniversary of the regaining of independence by Poland, Concept Culture will initiate an interactive Internet platform devoted to the most outstanding Polish ocean liner MS Piłsudski. The ship will serve as an axis for narration about the history of Polish culture, economy and statehood in the Second Republic of Poland. We will also tell you about the luxury and power of ocean liners.

1. A story about the ship and its patron Józef Piłsudski using the digital story telling formula, richly illustrated with photos, documents and museum collections.

2. A revolving 3D model of the ocean liner MS Piłsudski, prepared by computer graphic designers on the basis of the shipyard model made available by the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk.

The model was scanned with the use of photogrammetry. The almost 2 000  graphically processed pictures served to create a tridimensional model which viewers can turn and look into to see the interiors shown with the help of archival photos.

3. Picture gallery
Visitors will be able to make use of a browser to reach, with the help of tags, the resources digitalized under the project. Here, they will also be able to find materials from the research expedition to the wreck of the vessel organized by the London Divers’ Club ‘Waleń’. The  rich source materials collected on the platform proceed from partners to the project: National Maritime Museum, National Digital Archive, National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute, Museum of Emigration in Gdynia, National Library, Archives of the Polish Academy of Science, National Museum in Warsaw as well as 10 private collectors. Thanks to fruitful partnership cooperation, Internet users will be able to see 735 archival resources, including 220 to be disclosed for the first time.

4. The educational domain will include:

1. A scenario for an independent use by a teacher to conduct classes on the basis of the platform, together with supporting materials;
2. Four interactive games based on the platform photographic resources: quizzes, puzzles, memory  and historical domino.

I. THE BIRTH OF THE SHIP

- The Beginnings of MS Piłsudski
- Building the ship
- The Launch
- Sea Trials
- A Structural Marvel
- Maiden Voyage
- Raising of the Flags

II. THE AMBASSADOR OF POLISH CULTURE:

- The symbol of spirit, pride and courage
- A ship with a Polish personality
- The Pride of the Second Republic of Poland
- Artists on the MS Piłsudski
- The gallery of Polish art
- In the contemporary spirit

III. A FLOATING CITY:

- Bars, shops, celebrities
- Two classes of passengers
- 160 meters of comfort
- Balls and concerts
- Sports and recreation
- The ocean crossing souvenir

IV. ALWAYS AT YOUR SERVICE:

- First-rate staff
- The Captain
- The transatlantic menu
- The onboard hospital
- The onboard print shop
- Special services

V. UNDER THE POLISH FLAG:

- Hot welcoming
- The Winter Crossings
- Cargo crossings
- And so there is war!
- The military transporter

VI. THE LAST JOURNEY:

- The sinking
- Tragedy of the crew
- The causes of tragedy
- Epilogue

Partners

Financed from the funds of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage