The training of maritime personnel for merchant marine started in Romania in 1872, when the Fleet School of Galati was founded.
On 6 February 1990 a Government’s Decision was issued for the founding of the Merchant Marine Institute which included the Faculty of Naval Electromechanics, formerly part of the Mircea cel Batran Marine Institute and submit to the Ministry of Defense.
During the first meeting were elected the first Rector, Prof. Gavrila Rican, the first Dean of the Faculty of Navigation, Prof. Nicolae Romulus and the first Dean of the Faculty of Electromechanics, Prof. Lucian Balut.
To the former two faculties a River Navigation College was added in 1992, which later on became The University College for Maritime and River Navigation. The college had initially three specializations: River Navigation, River Electromechanics and Radio-Electronics with 3-year study programmes.
On 9th February 1996 the University Senate approved the fisrt Charter of the Merchant Marine Institute, as an expression of academic autonomy and freedom for all academics. The Charter states the principles and the development strategy of the university, the rights and liabilities of the academic community.
Starting with 1997 post-gdraduate courses were introduces: “Advanced operating systems in naval transport”, “Engineering of naval electromechanical systems and Master’s studies.
In 2000, by government’s decision no. 85, the Merchant Marine Institute changed its name to Constanta Maritime University and, one year later, by order of the Ministry of Education and Research no. 4225/02.08.2001, it added doctoral studies to the educational offer.
In 2003 the university received the first Certificate for Quality Management System ISO 9001, being the first Romanian University to be audited and certified by a competent authority, Bureau Veritas.
Starting with 2004/2005 academic year, the university was authorized to organize part time study programmes for the following specializations: Navigation and Maritime and River Transport, Electromechanics, Electrotechnics.
In 2005 two more specializations were authorized: Environmental Protection and Engineering in Industry and Telecommunications Technologies and Systems.
The specialization Economic Engineering in Transport was authorized in 2006.
Today, the name of the institution is Constanta Maritime University and it is seen, both locally and internationally, as a source of highly qualified labor force in the maritime field.
