When considering the idea of an Independent Lithuania, the future founders of the state realised the importance of the sea. Dr. Jonas Šliūpas stated that „A nation without the sea has no future“, while Antanas Smetona considered the sea as the gateway to the Western world. All eyes were on Klaipėda as the most realistic port city of the future Lithuania.
After Independence, the country needed to become a maritime nation. Although Lithuania did not yet have its own port, eminent public figures began to build a navy. On their own initiative, they set up the Lithuanian Steamship Company. Soon after, the first seagoing ships bearing the Lithuanian tricolour arrived in French-controlled Klaipėda. They were given the symbolic names „Jūratė“ and „Kastytis“.
The first seafarers completed their theory courses at Kaunas Higher School, and completed three years of training on the Finnish sailing ships Archibald Russel and Olivebank. This is how the first generation of captains of independent Lithuania grew up.
The merchant fleet was created by the large state-owned companies Maistas, Pienocentras and Lietūkis. They bought the first cargo ships, founded the Lithuanian Baltic Lloyd in 1936 and began exporting Lithuanian pork, cereals and butter to Western Europe. Within a few years, the Lloyd's fleet grew to 8 ships. Until 1940, ships named after Lithuanian towns plied the Baltic waters. They carried the tricolour and had Lithuanian captains from farming backgrounds at the helm.
