Sea Captains of Lithuania. Bronius Krikštopaitis

2. MARITIME PRACTICE AND STUDIES

You cannot learn seafaring only in the classroom or on ships moored in the port. In 1925, young sea cadets were assigned to the sailing ships “Olivebank” and “Archibald Russell”, both registered in the Åland Islands, Finland. The goal was to gain experience working as part of the crew, acquire practical skills and undertake a voyage around the world.  

The shipping company allowed us to freely choose which ship we would like to sail on. The city youth decided to sail on a sailing vessel “Olivebank”, and we, the country greenhorns, on the ship “Archibald Russell” …which was now to become our floating home and school for the next three years. (B. Krikštopaitis By Sea Routes, 1979, Chicago)

After the sea practice on a sailing ship, Bronius Krikštopaitis, like the other eight Lithuanians, was sent in 1929 to finish his maritime studies at Åbo (Turku) Navigation Institute. After their practical and theoretical knowledge was assessed, they were admitted to the first year of studies for ocean-going navigators and in 1930 passed the examinations for ocean-going navigation captain diplomas.

To become real captains, we still needed to complete an internship, that is, to serve as navigators for at least two years and independently command the ship during our duty shifts. ...few of us were admitted to Klaipėda’s German cargo ships “Friesland”, “Gotland” and “Stephanie”. (B. Krikštopaitis By Sea Routes, 1979, Chicago) 

PHOTOGRAPHS:

  1. Students and lecturers of the Maritime Department of Kaunas Higher Technical School, 1923–1924. B. Krikštopaitis is in the top row, first from the right.

  2. The four-masted barque Archibald Russell, early 20th century.

  3. Lithuanian students of the Åbo Navigation Institute with their fellow students, 1930–1931.

  4. Lithuanian maritime cadets on the deck of the sailing ship Archibald Russell. From left: Mykolas Limba, Stasys Dagys, Aleksandras Rasiulis, Bronius Krikštopaitis, Antanas Mėlynis and Kazys Daugėla. 1926–1928.

  5. Lithuanian maritime cadets on a yardarm of the sailing ship Archibald Russell, in the roadstead of Sundsvall, Sweden, 20 May 1929.

  6. Lithuanian cadets who had completed their practical training at sea, at Åbo Navigation School. From left: Aleksandras Rasiulis, Kazys Daugėla, Feliksas Marcinkus, Mykolas Limba, Benediktas Monkevičius, Vytautas Babarskis, Stasys Dagys and Bronius Krikštopaitis. 1929–1930.

  7. Bronius Krikštopaitis on the anchor capstan aboard the sailing ship Archibald Russell, 1927–1929.

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