The academic character, the university autonomy, together with the
expanding of the students' league organizations, have led to a thorough civilian life in
our Institute. Unlike the majority of marine institutes, where the life is more or less a
military one, in Romania there is no difference between a merchant marine institute and a
university. Our students are fully aware that discipline is free consented. They know that
they have to observe the regulations on board ships, but, in change, they are not subject
to the inherent privations of the military regime.