The 298.6 foot square- rigger Prinzess Eitel Friedrich, built in 1909, was one of three square-riggers owned and operated by the German Schoolship Association. She was seized by the French in 1918 and renamed Colbert. After 11 years in a laid-up state, the Merchant Marine Academy in Gdynia attained her in 1929 thanks to the people of Pomorania who raised the money to buy her. She was towed to Denmark for repairs under the name of Pomorze ('Pomerania') - a delivery during which she was nearly lost. Upon her arrival in Poland the ship was renamed "Dar Pomorza"- ( meaning 'Gift of Pomerania'), and the Polish flag was hoisted on her for the first time on July 13, 1930.

After sailing to New York in 1932, and Brazil and South Africa in 1933, she set sail from Gdynia in 1934 for a round - the - world voyage. In 1936 she transited the Panama Canal for a second visit to the Pacific Ocean and stopped at the Galapagos and Tahiti. In 1937 she became the first Polish windjammer to round Cape Horn. She spent the war years laid up as a refugee in neutral Sweden.

After returning to Gdynia in 1945 she operated in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic before going to the West Indies. In 1972 she was the first ship from Eastern Europe to take part in a Tall Ship race. She was a regular participant in those races until her retirement.

In 1976 she took part in the trans-Atlantic American Bicentennial Tall Ships Race and was one of the most popular and respected ships in the fleet. In 1980 she was awarded the Cutty Sark Trophy, the biggest prize of that years Tall Ship race (awarded by secret ballot of all the masters and skippers in the race to the ship which has contributed to the spirit of International friendship).This was the last Tall Ships Race before the 'White Frigate', as she was affectionately called by her crew, retired.

She was retired in Gdnia as a museum ship, once more under the command of Captain Jurkiewicz who had been her Captain from before the Second World War until 1976. The ship now lives on as a monument to Polish seafaring at the Polish State Sea School.