Founded in 1769, has trained the generations of women and men of the sea, and is a benchmark in the research in the field of Marine Science and Engineering. Since 1932 is housed in its current headquarters, located in the Pla de Palau 18, 08003, Barcelona, where students are enrolled in the Merchant Marine and also students for the Systems Engineering and Naval Technology.
A few years ago, it was the 75th anniversary of the building, it took place several lectures on the historical value of the current home of the Faculty of Nautical Studies of Barcelona; and one of the most caught my attention was precisely the political of the Faculty at the time of the dictatorship, and its contribution to the culture of the Mediterranean maritime, the Barcelona Maritime Museum which was initially made with donations from our faculty, and of course, Catalunya, a maritime country completely in all its traditions cannot afford to lose Nautical School, the oldest of the other six in Spain, for monetary desire of a group of people who actually know the importance and maritime heritage that represents FNB.
Under the guise of "moving to a more modern building," the Rectoral’s team of the UPC (Universitat Politècnica de catalunya) wants to move this Faculty to another place, even commented that outside of Barcelona, losing all connection to the Port of Barcelona, Catalonia's main port, if this happens, the Faculty of Nautical Studies will be condemned to the imminent closure, even with classrooms full of students and a fully equipped building as the present.
The reason, as a historic building, is to be sold to pay debts (which come from outside the Faculty- debts of the Rectoral's team of the University-not debts of the Nautical Faculty), depriving us of our current headquarters, Heritage and the Mediterranean Sea…
We are trying to share this message all around the world, in order to collect all moral support possible for avoid this sad event.
For extended version (translated to english) pls click here
Hashtag in twitter: #saveFNB
Dr. Jesus E. Martinez Marin
Ph.D Nautical Sciences & Engineering & Marine Deck Officer.
Professor @ Faculty of Nautical Studies of the UPC.
